February 11, 2026
Rockets, rails, and Reddit rage
US decides SpaceX is like an airline, exempting it from Labor Relations Act
Government says SpaceX is “like an airline”—fans joke, critics cry foul, unions eye the launchpad
TLDR: The US put SpaceX under airline-style labor rules, so the labor board dropped its case over fired employees. Commenters are split: some call it political favoritism, others say it could actually push SpaceX toward unionization, and many joke about rockets delivering mail—stakes are high for worker rights.
The US just told its labor board to back off SpaceX because the company is now being treated like an airline, regulated under the Railway Labor Act—yes, the same rules used for trains and planes. That means the National Labor Relations Board dropped its case over eight employees fired after an open letter criticizing Elon Musk. The National Mediation Board says SpaceX is a “common carrier by air” moving stuff (even mail) for the government, so different labor rules apply. Cue fireworks.
Outrage lit up the comments: one camp calls this “rigged” and “fraudulent”, pointing to Musk’s Oval Office photo-op and alleging political favoritism. Another camp says be careful what you wish for—under the Railway Labor Act, strikes are harder, but airlines are heavily unionized, which could backfire on SpaceX’s anti-union vibe. A legal skeptic popped in to explain, in plain English, that rail/air rules exist for essential transport, and SpaceX is being lumped in with that club. Then came the scope bomb: a reminder that this ruling may touch xAI and X (Musk’s other companies), sending the thread into conspiracy charts and popcorn GIFs.
The memes? “United Space Postal Service,” “Please stamp your Falcon 9,” and “Gate change: your rocket now departs from Terminal RLA.” The fired workers’ lawyer insists “RLA doesn’t apply to space travel,” turning this from a labor policy story into a full-on internet courtroom showdown, with everyone arguing over whether rockets are basically mail trucks with flames. Read the open letter and the NLRB complaint coverage here.
Key Points
- •NLRB dismissed its complaint against SpaceX after determining it lacks jurisdiction due to the Railway Labor Act.
- •The National Mediation Board ruled on January 14, 2026 that SpaceX is a common carrier by air and a carrier transporting US Government mail.
- •The RLA, enforced by the NMB, differs from the NLRA and makes strikes more difficult through extensive dispute-resolution processes.
- •The original NLRB complaint (January 2024) alleged SpaceX illegally fired eight employees who criticized CEO Elon Musk.
- •A February 6 letter from NLRB Regional Director Danielle Pierce conveyed the dismissal, following a May 21, 2025 referral to the NMB.