Hawthorne, California - Several former SpaceX employees have filed a complaint against the company, alleging they were fired for speaking out against founder Elon Musk.

A recent New York Times article details how nine employees were fired after they composed a letter to SpaceX requesting the company condemn Musk's "harmful Twitter behavior."

The workers had spoken out after Musk had made fun of a news report on SpaceX reaching a settlement in a sexual harassment claim made against the billionaire.

On Wednesday, eight of the nine workers that were terminated filed an unfair labor charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that their firing was illegal.

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"It was hard for me to believe what was happening it was so brazen," said Tom Moline, a former engineer for the company who helped compose the letter. "It feels like one of those times employees have protections."

In a meeting following the incident, SpaceX vice president Jon Edwards hosted a team meeting where employees claimed he argued Musk can do whatever he wants, because "SpaceX is Elon and Elon is SpaceX."

Musk has recently come under heavy criticism for his leadership.

After his acquisition of Twitter in October, he immediately fired the entire board of directors and laid off half the staff with very little notice and questionable compensation. On Tuesday, he sent a memo to remaining employees demanding they agree to work harder and longer hours, or they would also be terminated.

SpaceX employees in the past have also complained that the company's work environment tolerates sexual harassment and discrimination. So have workers at Musk's other major business interest, Tesla.