Three UAW Officers Ordered to Repay $50,000 Each After Audit

The issue stemmed from a technical error in how the officers' wages were structured, according to the local president.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 5:39am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Three administrative officers at UAW Local 51 in Detroit have been ordered to repay about $50,000 each after an internal audit found they were paid full-time wages in a way that violated UAW rules. The local president, Luigi Gjokaj, says the issue was an honest mistake resulting from previous leadership inadvertently violating a 2002 administrative letter, and that he plans to appeal the order.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex bureaucratic structure and rules governing UAW locals, and the potential for unintentional violations even when union leaders are acting in good faith. It also raises questions about oversight, transparency, and the union's ability to correct such issues internally.

The details

The problem originated in July 2023 when Gjokaj transitioned from the shop floor to become the vice president of Local 51. He and two other local officers were then appointed to full-time paid positions, but an internal UAW audit later found that their wages were not properly written into the local's bylaws as required by a 2002 administrative letter. As a result, Gjokaj was ordered to repay $49,954.73, while the recording secretary and financial secretary-treasurer were ordered to repay $47,306.69 and $48,269.19 respectively.

  • In August 2023, Local 51's then-president, Casey Fiddler, alerted Gjokaj, Taylor and Burkhart that they would be full-time, paid employees of the union.
  • In September 2024, UAW President Shawn Fain ruled that the local union must cease payment to the local officers until they could amend their bylaws to comply with the 2002 administrative letter.
  • In December 2024, the audit resulted in the order for the three officers to repay the 'overpayment of lost time'.

The players

Luigi Gjokaj

The president of UAW Local 51 who was ordered to repay $49,954.73 after the internal audit.

Vaquita Taylor

The recording secretary of UAW Local 51 who was ordered to repay $47,306.69 after the internal audit.

Patricia Burkhart

The financial secretary-treasurer of UAW Local 51 who was ordered to repay $48,269.19 after the internal audit.

Casey Fiddler

The former president of UAW Local 51 who alerted Gjokaj, Taylor and Burkhart that they would be full-time, paid employees of the union in August 2023.

Shawn Fain

The current president of the UAW who ruled that the local union must cease payment to the local officers until they could amend their bylaws to comply with the 2002 administrative letter.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Even though we may have had a technical error or a bylaw error, we didn't do anything maliciously or intentionally. This was all with the best intentions of maintaining the local.”

— Luigi Gjokaj, President, UAW Local 51

“The only way to beat lies and to beat darkness is to bring it out into the light, to be transparent about it, to speak about it. I will never hide from you.”

— Luigi Gjokaj, President, UAW Local 51

What’s next

Gjokaj plans to take his case to an internal committee that handles appeals, seeking to prove to the adjudicators as well as his local membership that he was acting in good faith.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex rules and oversight governing UAW locals, and the potential for even well-intentioned union leaders to run afoul of technical requirements. It underscores the importance of transparency and the union's ability to correct issues internally, while also raising broader questions about governance and accountability within the UAW.