Woke Union Watchdog
Report VI · Released June 3, 2026
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UAW

United Auto Workers · Largest in North America members

The most aggressive anti-Trump union in America — led by a man in an "eat the rich" shirt who flew his board to Puerto Rico on member dues.

The Bottom Line

UAW gave roughly $4 million directly to Democratic party organizations during the Trump era. To Republican party organizations: $0.

An auto worker on the floor of a Detroit assembly plant, the half-built frame of a vehicle behind him in low industrial light
Political Spending

The Money

UAW spent nearly $95 million on politics from 2017 to 2024. Around $4 million went directly to Democratic party organizations. Republicans got nothing.

$94,811,322
Total political spending 2017–2024
DOL LM-2 filings
Direct Party Contributions
Democratic party organizations
~$4,000,000
Republican party organizations
$0

Not a penny went directly to Republican-aligned organizations from 2017 through 2024.

$2,000,000
To the Democratic Governors Association alone
Funded
Economic Policy Institute and Superior Blue Strategies — Democratic political and policy infrastructure
UAW V-CAP PAC
Functioned as a "financial engine for Democratic power," funneling money to Senate Majority PAC, House Majority PAC, and the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
Trump's Self-Declared Chief Antagonist

Anti-MAGA Advocacy

UAW didn't just oppose Trump. The union literally called itself his "chief antagonist" — and backed it up by endorsing a slate of self-declared Democratic Socialists.

A pair of worn work boots with an American flag pin
Auto workers vote Trump. UAW endorses Mamdani, Lander, Valdez, and the rest of the DSA slate.
2024 Presidential endorsement
Kamala Harris / Tim Walz
“Billionaires don't have the right to exist.”
— Public statement
Endorsed Democratic Socialists
Zohran Mamdani (NYC Mayor), Claire Valdez, Brad Lander, Conrad Blackburn, Katie Wilson (Seattle) — alongside Katie Porter and Tram Nguyen
Stood by
A UAW worker who heckled President Trump on a Detroit visit, calling him a "pedophile protector" — UAW defended the worker's right to insult the President
Said of Israel
Accused the country of conducting a "genocidal starvation campaign" on Gaza
Officially endorsed
A Jacobin article positioning UAW as Donald Trump's "chief antagonist" in an "all-out war" with the administration
$300 Million in Member Dues

The Waste

From theme parks to luxury vacations, UAW spent $300 million of member dues on everything except the members.

An empty amusement park at dusk, a roller coaster looming silently in the background
Two million dollars in member dues, spent at Cedar Point, Six Flags, Adventureland, and a dozen other amusement parks.
$2,000,000
Spent on theme parks (2017–2024)
DOL LM-2 filings
$300,000,000+
Total wasteful spending 2017–2024
Theme park vendors include
Cedar Point, Six Flags, Adventureland, Great America, Darien Lake, Hawaiian Falls Waterparks, and Millennium Operations
Shawn Fain's luxury trip
Fain flew several board members to Puerto Rico on member dues — billed as a week-long meeting.
"Eat the Rich" — a Hypocrisy

Self-Enrichment

Shawn Fain wears an "eat the rich" t-shirt and says billionaires don't deserve to exist. He earns more than four times what his own members do — and flew the UAW board to Puerto Rico on their dues.

An empty wicker beach lounger and a half-finished cocktail on a Caribbean beach at twilight, a luxury resort glowing in the background
The vacation the president took on member dues. The members weren't invited.
The Salary Gap
Shawn Fain — President
$229,514
Average UAW auto worker
$55,000

UAW's "eat the rich" president earns more than four times the average auto worker he claims to represent.

56%
HQ staff earning six figures
16%
HQ staff earning >$150,000
$272,139
Top admin assistant (Todd Brien)
2024 LM-2 — higher than Fain's own salary
Margaret Mock — Secretary-Treasurer
$224,861/year, plus three Vice Presidents at $211,001 apiece
The Pattern

UAW is one of seven.

UAW is not an outlier. Across seven major American industrial unions, the same pattern repeats: rank-and-file members who voted for Trump, led by executives who fund his opposition.

See all seven reports
The Full Dossier

Read the complete UAW report

Every figure footnoted. Every claim sourced.

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