Posts tagged Neil Barofsky
In another letter to court, member urges monitor investigate UAW local
April 13, 2026 // The latest letter, submitted by UAW retiree Rick Michael, a former parole officer represented at UAW Local 6000 in Lansing, requests that the monitor look beyond President Shawn Fain and his administration's conduct. Previously, Michael wrote in December to ask the monitor to investigate claims of discrimination taking place at Local 6000. He had previously been told it was outside of the monitor's purview.
UAW Federal Oversight Cost Union More Than $25M So Far
April 4, 2026 // These rising expenditures come at a time when the UAW faces broader financial pressure, with relatively flat membership growth over the past several years. Despite these headwinds, the UAW reported more substantial gains in 2025, with total membership rising 4.6 percent to 392,447 members, up from 375,161 the previous year. The 2025 calendar year marked the biggest annual membership increase since Fain was elected as union president in 2023. The report also provides additional insight into compensation among UAW leadership, with Fain receiving $276,378 in total compensation last year.
Cost of Fed oversight of UAW skyrockets as union moves from scandal
April 1, 2026 // Barofsky's firm, Jenner & Block, has been paid $25.39 million since 2021, and the firm charged more than $7 million last year ― an increase of almost 21% from one year earlier ― as the watchdog and his team investigated Fain and several members of his team. The total cost of federal oversight, however, is much higher, considering there are additional firms working for Barofsky.
Commentary: Jacobin’s New Columnist Chris Brooks Doesn’t Disclose Corruption Charges that Led to His Ouster from UAW
February 9, 2026 // However, nowhere in Brooks’ inaugural column titled “Four Lessons From the UAW’s Turn Toward Class Struggle” is his ouster from the UAW over his illegal conduct ever mentioned. This, even though it was covered by major publications including the Detroit Free Press, Reuters, and even Brook’s hometown paper, The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Instead, Jacobin gave a platform to a corrupt union official to repair his legacy without ever having to address the very serious allegations of corruption, dishonesty, and retaliation, or the violation of federal law that forced him out of union office.
3 UAW officers ordered to pay $50,000 back to union after audit
February 2, 2026 // Instead, Gjokaj and two other local officers appointed then are each facing an order to repay almost $50,000 dollars to their union for “overpayment of lost time,” because the wages they were paid were not written properly into the local’s bylaws. “Lost time” refers to hours spent working on behalf of the union when a local officer would otherwise be working for the company. Gjokaj, who is contesting the order to repay the $49,954.73 he received over 13 months spanning 2023 to 2024, said he understands why there is concern over the wages he earned, though he had no idea the union was violating rules. The amount he’s been ordered to repay is more than half of his total compensation he took home during that time (UAW officers are paid by the company when working in the factory, and paid by the union when staffing the local union hall).
Former Chattanooga activist Chris Brooks has left his senior union post after federal monitor report
January 1, 2026 // Chris Brooks, a former Chattanooga activist and an architect of the United Auto Workers' 2024 win at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant, has left his senior union post after a federal monitor's report said he conspired to retaliate against another union leader in an internal power struggle.
UAW shuffles leadership after monitor details retaliation scheme
December 30, 2025 // A federal monitor found evidence of retaliation, falsified allegations and deleted text messages involving senior UAW officials. The UAW reinstated key department leaders, disciplined staff and changed compliance reporting lines. Oversight remains in place as the union prepares for upcoming leadership elections and continued reform efforts.
UAW member wants federal monitor to investigate local president
December 20, 2025 // A member of UAW Local 6000, based in Lansing, Mich., has asked a federal court-appointed monitor to investigate the local's president, Rachael Dickinson, for alleged corruption and retaliation. An internal UAW investigation found Dickinson engaged in a pattern of discrimination toward minority women, including stripping elected leaders of their duties. The request compares Dickinson's alleged actions to those of UAW International President Shawn Fain, who is also under investigation by the monitor for retaliation.
UAW president’s chief of staff to leave the union following federal monitor report
December 19, 2025 // A key United Auto Workers strategist and architect of the union’s 2023 auto-factory strike is leaving the labor group, after a report by the federal monitor overseeing the UAW concluded that he was part of a campaign to improperly remove duties from another union leader. Chris Brooks, chief of staff to UAW President Shawn Fain, will no longer be employed by the union as of December 31, according to a report released on Thursday by the monitor’s office.
UAW monitor warns of “toxic culture” amid leadership challenges
November 18, 2025 // The UAW’s court-appointed monitor issued a stern warning Friday, Nov. 14, saying the union must take meaningful reform seriously or face the risk of corruption and abuse returning. Neil Barofsky, the monitor overseeing the union under a consent decree since 2021, cited a “toxic culture of division and retaliation at the highest levels,” singling out union President Shawn Fain and close allies. Barofsky’s report, filed in federal court, details both serious challenges and some positive steps the union has made toward reform. The monitor emphasized that failure to act could extend federal oversight beyond its scheduled end in 2027.