Published
July 28, 2026
A report from a court-appointed federal monitor has raised concerns about leadership at the United Auto Workers (UAW), alleging that its president, Shawn Fain, retaliated against a senior union official and misused his authority for personal reasons. The findings come amid growing scrutiny of the union’s leadership and follow reports that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a grand jury investigation into these allegations.
The UAW has remained under federal oversight since its 2020 settlement with the Justice Department following a corruption scandal that resulted in convictions of multiple former union leaders. The monitor's role was established as part of that settlement to ensure reforms, improve accountability, and restore trust among union members.
According to the report released on June 25, Fain improperly removed its vice president, Rich Boyer, from oversight of the union’s Stellantis Department. The monitor, Neil Barofsky, concluded that the decision followed Boyer’s refusal to carry out certain personnel changes and intervene in a compensation dispute involving a relative of Fain’s fiancée.
The report draws parallels to an earlier finding involving Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock. According to Barofsky, Fain stripped Mock of responsibilities after she declined to approve certain expenditures.
"President Fain employed a substantially similar approach in retaliating against Secretary-Treasurer Mock: identifying a pretextual basis for adverse action after Mock exercised her legitimate authority in a way that displeased him," the monitor said.
The concerns outlined in the monitor's report have taken on added significance following reports that the Justice Department has initiated a grand jury investigation into allegations involving Fain's conduct.
According to Reuters, attorneys working with the federal monitor informed union officials in June that federal prosecutors had opened an investigation into matters detailed in the monitor's report. The monitor's office reportedly delayed public disclosure of certain investigative findings out of deference to ongoing grand jury proceedings.
While no criminal charges have been announced and Fain has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations "false" and politically motivated, the reported Justice Department investigation elevates the seriousness of the questions facing the union's leadership.
Ultimately the monitor's findings and the reported federal investigation raise broader questions about whether the reforms implemented after the UAW's corruption scandal are functioning as intended. As union members prepare for the upcoming UAW leadership election, the issues of transparency, accountability, and effective governance are likely to remain central to the debate over the union's future direction.
About the author
Michael Billet
Michael Billet, director of policy research for Employment Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, keeps members and internal Chamber policy staff abreast of pending labor, immigration, and health care legislation, as well as federal regulatory and subregulatory activities. He is also responsible for planning the Chamber’s annual workplace and community wellness forum.
