Eleven of 14 members of the United Auto Workers' elected governing board fired back at a report from the union's court-appointed monitor that called for the officials to reinstate leadership positions for Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock after the watchdog concluded she had been retaliated against.

Led by UAW President Shawn Fain — who the report paints as an angry, foul-mouthed, controlling labor leader — a majority of the International Executive Board in a statement said they stand by their decision to have removed Mock from oversight of 11 union departments and two external board positions. This represents just the latest clash with the UAW monitor, attorney Neil Barofsky, who was installed by a first-in-UAW-history consent decree to oversee the union in 2021 for at least six years following a years-long corruption scandal.

A Justice Department probe sent two former union presidents, Gary Jones and Dennis Williams, to federal prison along with several others convicted of breaking labor laws, stealing union funds and receiving bribes, kickbacks and illegal benefits from contractors and auto executives. The first UAW president to be elected directly by its members, Fain promised a corruption-free and more transparent union.

"We were elected to the International Executive Board to run a clean, fighting union," the 11 IEB members said. "That means holding our leadership to a high standard that puts the membership first. Secretary-Treasurer Mock has failed to live up to that standard."

Barofsky had recommended that the UAW's governing board, or an appellate board, immediately reverse the actions to remove Mock from positions like head of the Women’s Department and the Technical Office and Professional Department and return her to power. He characterized the action to remove her from those positions as "premeditated" before an internal investigation, which didn't consult Mock, had been completed.

The 11 board members, however, said the IEB has taken corrective steps to address what they characterize as Mock's failings to do her job. They listed failure to produce a budget or membership list — important for next year's IEB election — nearly three years into her term. They argued she obstructed bargaining and organizing activities without specific details. Additionally, they noted she remains under investigation by the monitor for "a significant compliance failure regarding our union's investments."

"We stand by our decisions," the majority IEB group wrote. "We will continue to take action — as expected and deserved by our members — building on the incredible gains our union has made in the last three years."

Mock's lawyer, Mike Nicholson, who is the retired general counsel of the union, declined to comment on the officials' response.

Mock, in a statement through her lawyer on Tuesday, urged the IEB to follow the monitor's recommendations to reinstate her leadership roles: "I was elected on a reform slate because our members want a fresh start from the previous scandals and bad practices which took money out of our members’ pockets. We need to operate with full transparency, to restore the UAW’s reputation as a strong union that fights every day for our members."

UAW members on Wednesday shared a flyer advertising a "No Kings" rally at noon at Thursday at Solidarity House in Detroit against Fain: "Join UAW members and allies in demanding accountability, transparency and democracy from our leadership. We will not be ruled by one man."

The union and Barofsky have clashed on a couple of matters over the past two years. The parties in 2024 battled out a disagreement in federal court over whether the union could withhold or review confidential and privileged information being requested by the monitor as a part of his investigation, which he said the union was obstructing by slow-rolling the provision of documents. A judge ruled the union must provide unredacted versions of the documents except for minutes and recordings of meetings that involve discussion of collective bargaining strategy or attorney-client privileged conversations.

Additionally, the union has accused Barofsky in communications to his office of overstepping his role in raising concerns about UAW statements surrounding the Israel-Hamas war to Fain and others within the International UAW. The monitor’s office has said Barofsky is carrying out his duties “with the highest levels of professionalism and integrity.”

Aside from Mock, Vice President Rich Boyer — who last year was removed from leadership of the Stellantis NV Department, a decision also being investigated by the monitor — and Vice President Mike Booth didn't sign onto the statement with the rest of the IEB members. The News on Wednesday morning left a message for Booth inquiring about the matter.

The monitor on Tuesday stopped short of filing any charges against Fain amid ongoing investigations focused on "allegations concerning a retaliatory pattern of conduct" involving Fain. Barofsky's investigation into Fain does not appear to involve criminal allegations. However, Barofsky can try to discipline, remove, suspend, expel and fine UAW officers and members.

Last summer, Barofsky revealed he was investigating, among other things, allegations that Fain and his team demanded a subordinate take action to benefit the president's fiancée and her sister. Boyer alleges his refusal to do so was one of the reasons that he was removed from overseeing the Stellantis Department, according to an earlier court filing from the monitor.

Fain is engaged to Keesha McConaghie, according to his biography on the UAW's website. She is a financial analyst at the World Class Manufacturing Academy at the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center, which was previously overseen by Fain.

Fain has said Boyer's removal was because of a “dereliction of duty” in connection with certain collective bargaining issues. Boyer has defended his representation of members and accused Fain of a "direct attack on my character."

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