COPE-endorsed Ed Shew running for State Representative in 108th District

Ed Shew, a COPE-endorsed Democratic candidate for state representative in District 108, believes in organized labor, quality education and the eliminating the oppressive issues facing men and women in today’s struggling economy

He not only believes those things, he has shown it for more than 25 years, despite having never held elected office. Shew’s bio reads as though he has been strategically groomed to represent working men and women in Jefferson City as a labor-supportive state representative.

As a former human resources representative at St. Louis Community College, Shew worked 25 years in recruiting, compensation, employee relations and labor negotiations.

He’s also worked as a grocery clerk where he was a member of Retail Clerks Union, Local 655 (now the United Food and Commercial Workers Union), and later as a store manager at Kroger.

As a senior investigator/unit supervisor with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, he enforced state anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing and public accommodations. While a caseworker with the Missouri Division of Family Services, Shew was a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union, Local 410.

STANDING UP FOR WORKING MEN AND WOMEN

“Having worked at an educational institution, I value and understand the importance of pre-school education, K-12, higher education and vocational education,” Shew said. “I remember the time, on behalf of the college’s HR director, I heard a third-step grievance by a member of the physical plant bargaining unit. I was advised, by the HR director, that as a member of management, I was to rule against the grievant.”

Shew declined, explaining that his role was to be objective, to determine the facts and to ascertain whether administrative procedures, board policy and the labor agreement were applied appropriately.

“I never heard another grievance at the college,” Shew said.

Shew already knows his way around Jefferson City, assembling as an activist, like during his most recent visit to lobby legislators in favor of Medicaid Expansion and to dissuade them from enacting voter suppression laws.

“I was part of a vocal, enthusiastic crowd in Jefferson City urging legislators to put people over politics,” Shew said. “Our representatives need take a stand for the future and the vision for our state—and that’s what I plan to do. I will take a stand for the future and vision for our state.

Shew is also currently involved in helping to see MONA (Missouri Nondiscrimination Act) passed in our state. Hey says without enactment of this law, LGBT people can still be fired from their jobs, evicted from their homes and denied access to public accommodations and services.

“Workplace protections are good for Missouri businesses because they focus on merit and performance, improve the working environment and encourage diversity,” Shew said. “In the end, it grows a bottom line.”

Shew has seen both sides of the track and knows the tough times and struggles of working men and women. Shew, one of five children, was raised in a family that could not even afford a car.

“While working for Social Services, we were in Jefferson City during spring 2015, lobbying legislators to stop attempts to reduce the social services budget by $140 million, including programs for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled,” Shew said. “Alas, the social services budget was cut—but by $40 million. Through cooperation and compromise, small victories can be had.”

PUTTING BELIEFS INTO ACTION

It’s no surprise that Shew stands behind working men and women, the poor, the indigent and believes no group should be ignored by legislators. A member of the Tri-County Labor Club, Shew has long been out there with the labor community holding picket signs and walking door to door during candidate lit drops.

When there’s a Walmart protest, he’s there. When anti-right-to-work rallies are held, Shew is a participant.

He also serves as a member of: St. Charles Regional Table for Medicaid Expansion, Social Justice in Action team, Eliot Unitarian Chapel, Tri-County Faith/Labor Alliance, the National Alliance on Mental Illness/NAMI St. Louis, the Sierra Club and the Liberty High School Booster Club.

Remember the name Ed Shew when you cast your ballot in the November election.