After the union’s unsuccessful attempt to organize the Mercedes-Benz Plant in Vance, Alabama, president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Shawn Fain is under investigation for allegedly contributing to significant corruption within the organization.
Fain, who has only been President of the UAW since March 2023, has been accused by union members of retaliation after they reportedly disregarded the union boss’ demands.
A court-appointed watchdog is leading the investigation into the possible corruption, specifically looking at Fain’s alleged attempts to “obstruct and interfere” with the efforts of outside parties pushing to gain access to UAW-related information.
Fain’s violations could run afoul of a 2020 consent decree that halted the U.S. Justice Department’s complete takeover of the UAW.
“With more than three months having passed since the inception of the monitor’s investigation, and only a small fraction of the requested documents produced, the monitor’s assessment is that the union’s delay of relevant documents is obstructing and interfering with his access to information needed for his investigative work,” said Neil Barofsky, the watchdog. “If left unaddressed, it is an apparent violation of the consent decree.”
“The union’s arguments for delaying, and potentially denying, the monitor’s access to documents marks a shift in its position on cooperation.”
Barofsky isn’t just looking into the possibility that Fain retaliated against a Vice President within the union. In a separate investigation, he is also examining allegations of embezzlement in relation to a regional director within the organization.
However, Barofsky emphasized that at the current stage of the investigations the “allegations are just allegations.”
Fain issued a statement about the investigation. “Taking our union in a new direction means sometimes you have to rock the boat, and that upsets some people who want to keep the status quo, but our membership expects better and deserves better than the old business as usual,” Fein told the Associated Press. “We encourage the Monitor to investigate whatever claims are brought to their office, because we know what they’ll find: a UAW leadership committed to serving the membership, and running a democratic union.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
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