The U. S.
Justice Department is investigating United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain over allegations that he pressured a high-ranking union official to secure benefits for his fiancée and her sister.
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A federal grand jury has subpoenaed the union's court-appointed monitor as part of the probe.
The accusations claim Fain sought a financial bonus for his fiancée and pushed for her sister to receive workers' compensation from UAW Vice President Rich Boyer, who had the authority to grant both requests.
Boyer refused, and Fain allegedly retaliated by stripping him of his duties as chief negotiator with Stellantis.
Fain Denies Allegations, Accuses Boyer of Election Interference
Fain has fiercely denied the allegations, calling them “bogus” and accusing Boyer of trying to influence the upcoming UAW election, which both will contest this fall.
Speaking with Bloomberg, Fain said his relationship with Boyer soured early in his presidency after he refused Boyer's request to hire family members for union positions.
Fain also claimed he removed Boyer from his Stellantis role because the automaker had not fulfilled its hiring promises.
“I’ve remained silent on the political infighting in our union over the past two years because it only distracts from our mission as a union and as a movement,” Fain said.
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“But the stakes are too high, and the membership deserves to know the truth.”
In a statement, Fain said: “Let’s be clear about what’s going on here: Rich Boyer has fed the monitor false allegations about me and is now trying to weaponize these bogus allegations to steal the upcoming UAW election.
He knows he can’t win a fair fight because he has no real platform to run on.”
The court-appointed monitor stated it has “substantiated” Boyer's claims that Fain acted improperly.
Fain pushed back, alleging the monitor issued a “false report” that was politically motivated and stemmed from a February 2024 dispute when the union’s executive board approved a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Controversies within the UAW hierarchy are not new.
Two former presidents, Dennis Williams and Gary Jones, have both been convicted of embezzlement and served prison time.
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The UAW agreed to a court-appointed monitor in 2020 to resolve a corruption probe.
