UAW president under investigation for alleged retaliation against other union leaders By Reuters

By Nora Eckert and David Shepardson

DETROIT (Reuters) – United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is under investigation by an independent federal monitor over allegations of retaliation against other union leaders, according to a court filing Monday.

Observer Neil Barofsky opened an investigation in February to look into allegations, including that UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock said she suffered retaliation for her refusal or unwillingness to authorize certain expenses for the office de Fain, according to the file. Barofsky also opened an investigation into Mock's actions.

Fain said in a statement that he encouraged the Monitor “to investigate any allegations that come to their office, because we know what they will find: a UAW leadership committed to serving its members and leading a democratic union.

Fain added, “taking our union in a new direction sometimes means shaking things up, and that bothers some people who want to maintain the status quo. »

Barofsky was named federal comptroller in 2021 as the UAW grappled with a corruption scandal that resulted in the federal convictions of several former leaders. Two former UAW presidents were sentenced to prison as part of the investigation.

The Observer expanded its investigation to also include allegations made by Fain against the head of the union's Stellantis (NYSE:) department, Rich Boyer. Fain took over Boyer's duties at the end of May.

Union officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Boyer and Mock.

Fain alleged that Boyer's responsibilities were reassigned due to his “dereliction of duty” in relation to collective bargaining matters.

The Observer then received complaints that Fain's decision was an act of retaliation because Boyer refused to engage in acts of financial misconduct for the benefit of others, according to the court filing.

The observer said the union did not produce the requested documents quickly enough. UAW officials turned over about 2,600 documents out of a potentially relevant pool of about 116,000 documents, according to the filing.

The Justice Department also informed the Monitor that the union's position “made it difficult, if not impossible, for the Monitor to fulfill its mandate to eliminate fraud, corruption, and illegality within the UAW.” , says the file.

Fain took office last year after narrowly winning the first direct election in the union's history. He led the union group in a six-week strike against Detroit automakers last fall and is leading a nationwide organizing drive in the American South and West.

That campaign suffered a blow last month when the union lost a vote at a Mercedes plant in Alabama. A few weeks earlier, it had won a historic victory at a Volkswagen (ETR:) factory in Tennessee.

Fain has become an important figure for President Joe Biden this election year as the US leader tries to win over auto workers and voters in Michigan, a key swing state.

Biden joined Fain on a picket line in Michigan in support of striking auto workers in September. Fain also attended the 2024 State of the Union address, after the UAW endorsed Biden in January.