politics
February 12, 2026
US decides SpaceX is like an airline, exempting it from Labor Relations Act
US labels SpaceX a common carrier by air, will regulate firm under railway law.
TL;DR
- The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) dismissed a complaint against SpaceX.
- The NLRB determined that SpaceX should be regulated under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) instead of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
- This decision came after regulators classified SpaceX as a "common carrier by air."
- The original complaint alleged SpaceX illegally fired eight employees for criticizing Elon Musk.
- The RLA is enforced by the National Mediation Board (NMB) and has different rules, making it harder for employees to strike.
- SpaceX had previously sued the NLRB, challenging its structure, but the jurisdictional issue became the reason for dismissing the complaint.
- Attorneys for the fired employees plan to appeal and have a pending case in federal court, arguing the RLA does not apply to space travel.
- The NLRB's decision to defer to the NMB's opinion was made to potentially settle legal disputes.
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