[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NEW FACILITY TO BE NAMED CHARLES A. HAYES POST OFFICE

                                 ______


                          HON. CARDISS COLLINS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 1995

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today I am joined by my friend 
and Illinois colleague, Representative Dennis Hastert in introducing 
legislation naming a United States Postal Facility in Chicago as the 
``Charles A. Hayes Post Office.'' The post office, to be located in the 
2600 block of E. 75th Street in Chicago is currently under construction 
and will open in November 1996.
  Congressman Charles A. Hayes was first elected to Congress in 1983, 
in a special election, succeeding former Member of Congress, Harold 
Washington who resigned from the House after being sworn in as Mayor of 
Chicago. He was the First international union leader to be elected to 
Congress and spent his early years as a working man, organizing his 
first union and elected to his first union office as President of Local 
1424 of the Carpenter's International Union at age 20.
  Congressman Hayes went on to secure bargaining rights for workers in 
Chicago's stockyards through the United Packinghouse Workers of 
America. In 1954 he was elected District Director of the Packinghouse 
Union and moved continuously through the ranks and after several 
mergers, became International Vice President of the United Food and 
Commercial Workers Union, then the largest union in the AFL-CIO. Rising 
from the small town of Cairo, IL, ``Charlie'' became one of the most 
important labor leaders in America.
  Charlie was urged by labor leaders throughout Chicago to run for the 
Congressional seat vacated by Mayor Harold Washington. He won the 
August Democratic Primary, defeating 13 other Democratic contenders and 
was sworn into Congress in September of 1983.
  Former Congressman Hayes fought fiercely to protect American jobs, 
has been active in the fight to increase Federal funds for schools, to 
increase funds for public works, protections for civil rights and the 
rights of ordinary workers. He introduced full employment legislation 
and denounced unemployment as ``morally unacceptable'' while 
politicians were arguing about how best to cut taxes on the rich. He 
supported National Health Insurance from his earliest union days and is 
the only Member of Congress with a 100 percent lifetime voting record 
on issues important to labor.
  Prior to his departure, Congressman Charles A. Hayes chaired the 
Committee on Post Office and Civil Service Subcommittee on Postal 
Personnel and Modernization. He was known to his friends as the ``Labor 
Democrat'' and long recognized as a first-rate public servant and 
first-class friend, worked hard to make sure that workers across the 
country had food on the table, had pensions that were protected and 
were safe on the job.
  Charlie's frequent calls for ``Regular Order'' on the House floor 
have been missed. We are pleased to honor his efforts on behalf of 
working Americans. We urge our Illinois colleagues to cosponsor this 
measure.

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