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UAW President Shawn Fain (Deadline Detroit photo)
In 2021, Detroit U.S. District Judge David Lawson appointed lawyer Neil Barofsky as an independent monitor to implement reform and oversight of the United Auto Workers union, following an avalanche of corruption that sent two former union presidents to federal prison.
In a report submitted to the judge and released Tuesday, Barofsky portrays UAW President Shawn Fain as an angry leader who retaliated against UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock—the second most powerful union member—by removing her oversight of union departments and reassigning her board positions, according to CBT News.
The court-appointed monitor found that Fain targeted Mock after she refused or was reluctant to authorize certain expenditures for Fain’s office, CBT reports.
“Fain acted on a premeditated plan to take action against Mock,” Barofsky wrote, according to CBT. He concluded that Mock was improperly stripped of her duties in 2024 and falsely accused of misconduct.
CBT reported:
Fain and several other union executives have previously accused Mock of failing to put union members first, failing to produce a budget, and obstructing bargaining and organizing efforts. However, Barofsky found that Mock consistently complied with union policy and adhered to its strict financial protocols, which were implemented in response to prior financial scandals.
Although Barofsky recommended that the union reinstate Mock, he does not have the authority to enforce the action.
In 2021, Judge Lawson approved a consent decree to put a federal monitor over the UAW for six years. After that, he appointed lawyer Barofsky as the independent monitor.
Fain, 56, has served as the UAW president since March 2023.
