The United Auto Workers (UAW) has made significant changes to its leadership structure following a report by a court-appointed monitor, Neil Barofsky. The report revealed evidence of a retaliation scheme involving senior officials, which included falsified allegations and the deletion of text messages. This investigation led to the resignation of UAW President Shawn Fain’s chief of staff, who was implicated in efforts to undermine Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock. The union plans to restore Mock's departmental responsibilities in early 2026, subject to board approval.
In response to the findings, the UAW reinsaid Vice President Rich Boyer as head of the Stellantis Department and disciplined Communications Director Jonah Furman with a reassignment after an unpaid suspension. Additionally, the Compliance Department will now report to the union’s executive board instead of directly to the president.
Barofsky's report highlighted extensive destruction of text messages during critical periods of the investigation, including at least 123 deletions from Fain’s phone. Investigators recovered many messages from other officials' devices. The deletions appeared selective and lacked credible explanations. Internal reports were also altered with false allegations against Mock while omitting exculpatory information.
Despite these issues, Barofsky noted improvements in compliance systems but emphasized that a culture of retaliation persists within the union. He retains authority for disciplinary actions but sees no need for further penalties currently. As Fain approaches three years into his presidency after winning UAW's first direct election, he faces upcoming leadership elections and continued reform efforts amid scrutiny over his tenure.
