Charlie Shaw

What does being a member of 513 means to Charlie?

It gives me an honorable, respected way of life, and the ability to provide for my family. My wife and I have always looked forward to marching in the Labor Day parade, proudly wearing the I.U.O.E. 513 shirt. Then and now, it has become a yearly staple that we cannot miss. I can show my daughters that blue collar work is a great career path, and that women, too, can succeed in the industry. 513 is without question the most respected local, and I want to be a part of it. I am a constant advocate for 513 and I know with this local I will retire with dignity.

What does a Trustee do for 513?

A trustee attends quarterly meetings to go through the books, during an open meeting with Angel Owens, our accountant, and other trustees and auditors. We have a Q&A and go through all checks sent out, and we are able to question all expenditures, take that info, and form reports. From there we can deliver quarterly reports to the rank & file members at our regular union meetings, bringing accountability and offer a level of clarity to the members.

How did Charlie get started with 513?

I’ve always been a hands-on guy. I am a first-generation operator from a long line of union workers.  My family is a mixture of Teamsters, tool-and-die, food & commercial workers, welders, and UAW. When I signed up there was a waiting list so I decided to get into the Laborers’ Local 42 where I started my career in construction. After almost a 3 year wait, I finally got a call to start my apprenticeship. I consider myself a well-rounded operator that can fit into all the necessary positions to represent 513 as a whole. I have worked residential, on the pipeline, highway, car plants, refineries, bridge work, and environmental remediation.

Some of Charlie’s Accomplishments at 513:

I’ve been fortunate to work with two great administrations. During this time, I was proud to fight against and help overturn “right-to-work”. I’ve spent unimaginable amounts of time phone banking, hand billing, marches, collecting signatures, setting up signs, handing out literature at polling places, and setting up info booths at large gatherings. One of my fondest moments was bringing my daughters to an overpass in St. Charles where we held banners up to the traffic against “right-to-work”. Any member who knows me, or has seen me, knows I fight for my union and our virtues. I consider it a huge compliment to have been one of the 513 union members delivering the referendum signatures to the state capitol, defeating and overturning “right-to-work.”

Other Labor Positions Charlie Holds:

• North County Labor Club for 15+ years
• Tri-County Labor Club for 12 years
• Lincoln County Democrats

Charlies has been married for 18 years and has two daughters (13 and 10). Charlie is originally from North County and now lives in Winfield. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, boating, cooking, traveling, and mushroom hunting.