Federal investigation into UAW President Shawn Fain

An independent federal inspector has launched an investigation into United Automotive Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain, citing allegations of retaliation against other union leaders.

In a document filed June 10, federal court-appointed monitor Neil Barofsky said he launched an investigation into Fain in February after the union’s secretary-treasurer alleged that the UAW president retaliated when certain expenses for his office were not approved (via Automotive News). In addition to that investigation, Barofsky expanded the probe to include testimony against the Stellantis division of the union last fall, as well as an additional investigation into the secretary-treasurer.

In the 36-page document, Barofsky also writes about the union’s attempts to stonewall federal authorities and deny them access to necessary documents. The Observer says the UAW provided Barofsky with only about 2,600 of the roughly 116,000 documents requested.

The Justice Department writes in the document 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.”

At the time of this writing, the UAW has not responded to Teslaratis Request for comments.

Barofsky was appointed as an independent monitor by federal courts in 2021 after former presidents Gary Jones and Dennis Williams were both sentenced to prison at the end of a multi-year corruption investigation.

Jones was sentenced to 28 months in prison and Williams to 21 months. Both were involved in a $1.5 million embezzlement scheme in which they used union funds for luxury vacations, alcohol, golf outings and more. A total of 15 union leaders were charged as part of the investigation. The scandal has eroded public confidence in the union, the largest union in the nation’s auto industry.

The investigation comes not only in connection with the scandal, but also as part of a larger unionization campaign against 13 nonunion automakers with facilities in the U.S., including Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and others. Volkswagen workers at a plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, recently voted to recognize the UAW, while workers at a Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, voted against unionization last month.

In addition, this strike follows the UAW’s six-week strikes last year against Ford, General Motors (GM) and Dodge Chrysler parent company Stellantis, which ultimately led to the renewal of contracts with record wage increases for workers.

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