On June 17, the UAW’s court-appointed corruption Monitor released a report on the ongoing investigation into Shawn Fain. The report found that Fain wrongly retaliated against UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock, as well as providing insight into Fain’s leadership style and behavior.
According to the report, Fain and a cadre of inner-circle staffers coordinated to produce a list of unfounded charges against Mock, ambushed her at an executive board meeting with no prior notice, and removed her of responsibility for various departments and board assignments. The report suggests that Shawn Fain did this after Mock pushed back on approving expenses requested by Fain’s Chief of Staff Chris Brooks and Communications Director Jonah Furman.
The report also gives us insight into Fain’s behavior behind closed doors. According to the report, Fain has threatened and belittled UAW staffers. This likely has contributed to a “culture of fear” that recent audits of the UAW’s staff have found.
Here is how the Monitor described Fain’s behavior:
“Numerous interviewees told the Monitor about a staff meeting attended by SecretaryTreasurer Mock, other IEB members, and approximately 300 other UAW personnel around October 2023, at which President Fain told the UAW staff present that he would ‘slit’ or ‘cut’ the f****** throats’ of anyone who ‘messed’ with certain members of his inner circle. Nearly all interviewees who recounted this scenario to the Monitor said they interpreted Fain’s words as a serious threat that if they went against him or these referenced members of his inner circle, they would be retaliated against.”
“According to witnesses who asked to remain anonymous because they fear retaliation from President Fain, Fain approached the Head of the Print Shop and launched into what was described as a ‘tirade. He reportedly asked, ‘who told you to put [Mock’s] mother******* photo on there? This is my mother******* membership,’ and yelled, ‘who the f*** runs this mother******* department?’ According to Vice President Boyer, who spoke with an employee who Fain yelled at after the Print Shop Incident, the employee was ‘visibly shaken’ and ‘crying.’”
The UAW responded to the report by releasing a statement saying that the Executive Board “stands by their decisions” and refused to reinstate Mock’s assignments (despite being urged to do this by the Monitor). The union also published a statement from its lawyer alleging that the Monitor is overstepping his mandate to investigate corruption in the UAW.
The Monitor’s report notes that the Monitor is not yet taking disciplinary action against Fain due to still investigating the allegations of retaliation against UAW VP Rich Boyer. The Monitor has the authority to bring charges against Shawn Fain if needed – an action that seems more likely to be taken if the UAW’s leadership continues to reject his oversight.