Two New Lawsuits Filed Against SpaceX by Former Employees Alleging Safety‐Related Retaliation and Wrongful Termination

Supervisor Sounds Safety Alarm, Loses Job

Robert Markert, a 13-year SpaceX veteran who worked as a supervisor, alleges in his complaint that he was terminated in April after repeatedly warning management about dangerous working conditions. According to the lawsuit, Markert specifically cautioned SpaceX leaders that one aspect of their rocket fairing recovery process could “easily cause serious injury or death.”

The response he received, according to the complaint, was dismissive because the dangerous method “was the more economical solution.” This alleged exchange encapsulates what Markert describes as a pattern of prioritizing cost savings over worker safety throughout his tenure at the company.

Markert’s lawsuit details a punishing work environment where technicians were allegedly required to work 15 to 20 consecutive days. When he brought these concerns to supervisors, he was told “the schedule comes first,” according to the complaint. The relentless pace, performed in what Markert describes as a high-stress environment, resulted in injuries that ship technicians were allegedly too afraid to report for fear of repercussions.