UAW President Shawn Fain Accused of Retaliation by Federal Monitor

UAW President Shawn Fain retaliated against Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock by stripping her of key duties in 2023, according to a report released Tuesday by federal monitor Neil Barofsky. The investigation, launched in February 2024, concluded that Fain acted with intent to punish Mock for resisting certain expenditures from his office.

Barofsky, a New York attorney appointed in 2021 to oversee the United Auto Workers (UAW) after a sweeping corruption scandal, stated that Fain removed Mock’s responsibilities over purchasing, pensions, and benefits after she refused to bypass union spending policies. The monitor emphasized that these actions were retaliatory and premeditated.

The report recommends that the UAW executive board restore Mock’s duties, calling the retaliatory conduct a violation of internal governance standards. Allegations that Mock obstructed operations or influenced board votes were deemed unfounded by the monitor.

Fain, a prominent figure in the union's 2023 strike against Ford (NYSE:F), General Motors (NYSE:GM), and Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), has not responded to the findings. The UAW and Mock also declined immediate comment.

The controversy marks a significant challenge for Fain, who gained national recognition during the historic auto strike that highlighted labor’s resurgence. However, the monitor’s findings may undermine his leadership image as reformer.

Barofsky has issued twelve reports to date, regularly assessing union activities as part of ongoing oversight following the federal convictions of several former UAW leaders. The monitor’s role aims to ensure transparency and integrity within the union, which has faced intense scrutiny in recent years.

The case underscores ongoing tensions within the UAW’s top leadership and raises questions about internal checks and balances at one of the country’s most influential labor organizations.