Federal Monitor Reports UAW President Retaliated Against Officer but Defers Any Disciplinary Decision

The federally appointed monitor overseeing the United Auto Workers union released a report on Thursday stating that President Shawn Fain retaliated against a top officer and improperly used his authority in ways that would benefit his fiancée and her sister, Cnbc reported.

Neil Barofsky said Fain pushed for bonuses for non-union employees at a Stellantis training center that would have benefited his fiancée. The report also stated that Fain pushed Stellantis and union leaders to intervene in a workers' compensation matter for his fiancée's sister after she was injured at a Stellantis plant.

When Rich Boyer pushed back against some of these actions, Fain stripped him of certain duties, the report said. Barofsky stated that some evidence could warrant disciplinary action but deferred a decision pending further review. The union had reassigned the duties back to Boyer following a previous report from the monitor.

Fain issued a statement dated Tuesday saying Barofsky's reports were politically motivated. He wrote that the report was released more than two years after becoming aware of Boyer's allegations and on the eve of the election. "The most reasonable conclusion is that he is playing political games and abusing his power," Fain stated.

The UAW has been under federal oversight since a 2020 settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Fain is campaigning for a second four-year term, and Boyer is among the candidates running against him.