The clock is ticking on the possible beginning of the end for UAW President Shawn Fain. The lucky cog and self-professed “reformer” vowed to save a Big Labor organization from its own deeply entrenched legacy of corruption, and despite his trash-can speeches, the ongoing process isn’t going well.
Sure, Fain did outwardly pull off a few goals like that “stand-up strike” against the Big Three, which influenced copycats in other industries. The UAW also unionized a Tennessee battery plant before losing footing with a staggering loss, after which Fain’s attempt to organize the South deflated.
As we will discuss below, six local UAW locals want to oust the bombastic union frontman two years after he took office. How did he get here?
To borrow that old Facebook status about relationships: It’s complicated.
Fain has essentially done himself in, in an almost impressive fashion:
- In April, “The Reformer” received his wish to dissolve the UAW’s reform caucus, which was shuttered by a narrow vote. Soon, significant inner turmoil amid the union’s bureaucracy followed with a seasoned officer jumping ship. She accused Fain of filling his inner circle with inexperienced leaders and striking back against dissenters.
- In June, UAW federal watchdog Neil Barofsky’s twelfth status report painted an unflattering portrait of a power tripper who ousted two high-ranking union officers for refusing to approve questionable expenditure requests. That report also revealed Fain’s toxic leadership style that terrified the union’s own workers. Barofsky did stop short of pursuing criminal charges while specifying that he “continues to investigate various other allegations” related to Fain’s behavior, which will be the subject of a future report.
- In late July and early August, UAW locals began to turn on Fain in the union’s home base of Michigan. At a Warren local, members approved charges against him “under Article 30 of the union’s constitution.” Next, a Detroit-based Stellantis truck factory and southeast Michigan engine plant followed suit, and quickly, the six-local threshold was met for launching an administrative trial against Fain for a barrage of offenses, including financial mismanagement, retaliation against members, and dereliction of duty.
What’s next? Barofsky must approve the charges, and if that happens, a 12-person committee will oversee trial proceedings and decide Fain’s fate.
Two guys who won’t be rooting for him:
- Former UAW President Ray Curry did not hold back while alleging that Fain leads through “fear, intimidation, and retaliation.”
- UAW VP Rich Boyer, from whom Fain stripped Stellantis oversight duties in 2024, sat down with the Detroit Free Press to lament the state of the union: “He ain’t no leader … If you want to know the truth … It breaks my heart bad.”
Who could have seen this coming? Those who paid attention to Fain winning his position through a travesty of democracy might have known. Also, the next officer elections will be held in late 2026, so even without an administrative trial, his days as president might be numbered.
Meanwhile, Fain probably can’t count on receiving much support or sympathy from rank-and-file UAW members. His cheerleading for tariffs not only contributed to layoffs (at manufacturers and suppliers) but also led to reduced profit-sharing checks for Big Three workers. Not a good look.
Don’t forget: The next report from Barofsky will emerge by mid-December, so have your popcorn ready for showtime.
