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ACTIVISTS TARGET SPACEX IPO AS TESLA BOYCOTTS BITE

INDUSTRY DESK2 MIN READ
MON, MAY 25, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 3 SOURCES ▸ TIMELINE

Labor unions and activist groups are mounting pressure against SpaceX's anticipated initial public offering, building on momentum from successful Tesla boycotts. The effort marks an escalation in organizing against Elon Musk's business empire.

Activists, major labor unions, and institutional investors including a significant retirement fund are coordinating challenges to SpaceX's expected record-breaking IPO debut. The push follows tangible impacts from ongoing Tesla boycotts, which have demonstrably affected the electric vehicle maker's sales performance. Emboldened by these results, organizers are now directing similar pressure tactics toward Musk's aerospace company ahead of its public market entry. The groups plan to raise substantive questions about SpaceX's corporate practices, labor policies, and governance structures during the IPO process. Retirement fund involvement signals that even institutional investors are willing to scrutinize the company's operational standards. The timing coincides with increased legal scrutiny of Musk's business interests. Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive and mother of four of Musk's children, testified Wednesday in his ongoing litigation against OpenAI. Her testimony addressed allegations that she maintained dual roles—serving on OpenAI's board while allegedly acting as an informant for Musk during the period from 2016 to 2023. Meanwhile, Google is reportedly exploring a partnership with SpaceX on orbital data centers, a project the tech giant has been developing since late 2025. The potential collaboration underscores SpaceX's expanding role in enterprise infrastructure. The activist campaign against SpaceX's IPO represents a coordinated effort to leverage market mechanisms for corporate accountability. Success would require demonstrating sufficient investor concern about the company's practices to impact valuation or terms. The scale of SpaceX's anticipated debut—expected to be the largest IPO on record—makes it a high-stakes target for organizers seeking systemic change across Musk's companies.

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