The US Department of Justice is investigating allegations that United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain pressured a high-ranking official to provide benefits to his fiancée and sister, then retaliated when the official refused. Fain, running for a second term, denies the claims, calling them election interference.
Allegations and Monitor Report
Last month, the union's court-appointed monitor released a report alleging Fain improperly pushed for a financial bonus for his fiancée and worker's compensation for his sister, according to Bloomberg. When UAW Vice-President Rich Boyer refused, Fain removed him as chief negotiator with Stellantis NV. The report deferred disciplinary action, and a federal grand jury subpoenaed the monitor.
Background and Monitor Appointment
In 2021, a federal court appointed Neil Barofsky as independent monitor of the UAW after a corruption scandal, by consent decree. Barofsky, previously appointed by President George W. Bush in 2008 to oversee the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, now oversees the union. Fain was elected as a reform candidate in March 2023, while Boyer won a direct ballot election for an executive board position in 2022.
Fain's Response and Allegations of Weaponization
Fain alleges the monitor has been weaponized by Boyer ahead of union elections beginning in August. “Let’s be clear about what’s going on here: Rich Boyer has fed the monitor false allegations about me and is now trying to weaponize these bogus allegations to steal the upcoming UAW election. He knows he can’t win a fair fight because he has no real platform to run on,” Fain said in a statement.
Fain argued the conflict stems from his refusal to let Boyer hire family members into union positions. “The truth when it comes to Boyer is that I didn’t want him running the Stellantis department because he wasn’t doing a good job for our members. I wouldn’t let him hire family members into UAW positions, and I wouldn’t stand by while he bargained concessions with Stellantis and failed to enforce our contract,” Fain added.
Political Grudge Over Gaza Stance
Fain accused Barofsky of holding a “political grudge” over the union’s support for a ceasefire in Gaza. In 2023, the UAW signed a petition calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, a move Fain praised in a December 2023 speech. “I’m done being silent. Neil Barofsky has a political grudge against me because the UAW took an anti-war stance about what was happening in Gaza,” Fain said.
The UAW's outside counsel, in a February 2024 email, accused Barofsky of “a surprising lack of integrity” after he questioned the union's position on the war. The UAW was the largest union to call for a ceasefire in 2023. Barofsky forwarded a letter from the Anti-Defamation League expressing concerns about a UAW Local's statement supporting a ceasefire, though he acknowledged the matter was outside his jurisdiction, according to the Detroit News.
The Department of Justice and Boyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Barofsky did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
