UAW president under investigation over retaliation allegations

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 the UAW secretary-treasurer said she was retaliated against for her refusal or unwillingness to authorize certain expenses for Fain's office, according to the folder. Barofsky also opened an investigation into the secretary-treasurer's actions. The UAW declined to comment.

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 leader of the union's Stellantis STLAM.MI department. Fain took over as head of the Stellantis department at the end of May.

Fain alleged that the Stellantis department head's responsibilities were reassigned due to his “dereliction of duty” regarding collective bargaining matters.

The monitor then received complaints that Fain's decision was an act of retaliation because the Stellantis chief had 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 Department of Justice also informed the Monitor that “the union's position makes 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, she had won a historic victory at a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee.

Fain has become an important figure for President Joe Biden this election year as the U.S. leader tries to win over Michigan auto workers and voters. 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.