According to a Reuters report, a document submitted to a U.S. court on June 10 reveals that Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers (UAW), is under investigation by federal investigators due to allegations of retaliating against other union leaders.
The document shows that Inspector General Neil Barofsky launched an investigation in February to review the allegations. Among these is a claim by UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock, who alleges she faced retaliation for refusing to approve certain expenditures from Fain's office. Simultaneously, Barofsky is also investigating Mock's conduct.
In a statement, Fain said he encourages the inspector to "investigate all complaints received, as they will find that UAW leadership is dedicated to serving union members and running a democratic union." Fain added, "Taking the union in a new direction sometimes means shaking up the status quo, which can unsettle those who wish to maintain it."
Barofsky has expanded the investigation to include allegations made by Fain against union leader Rich Boyer, who is responsible for Stellantis matters. At the end of May, Fain replaced Boyer, citing Boyer's "negligence" in collective bargaining issues. However, according to court documents, complaints later received by the inspector allege that Fain's decision was retaliatory because Boyer refused to engage in financial misconduct.
Barofsky stated that the UAW has not promptly provided the requested documents. Court documents indicate there may be 16,000 relevant documents, but UAW officials have only handed over approximately 2,600.
In this year's U.S. election, Fain has become a key figure for President Biden's re-election campaign, as Biden aims to secure the support of autoworkers and voters in the crucial swing state of Michigan. Earlier reports suggested that the U.S. government plans to appoint Fain as a member of the Export Council.
