[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E689-E690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HONORABLE CHARLES A. HAYES OF ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 16, 1997

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our distinguished colleague 
from Illinois, Bobby Rush, for reserving this special order. We gather 
to pay tribute to our good friend and former colleague, Charles Hayes, 
who passed away on April 8, 1997. We join members of his family, the 
people of Illinois, and others throughout the Nation in morning his 
death.

[[Page E690]]

  When he was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1983, Charlie Hayes 
become the first elected representative of rank and file trade 
unionists to serve in this legislative body. It was a significant 
achievement for an individual who had devoted his life to fighting for 
the rights of working men and women.
  Mr. Speaker, Charlie Hayes was born in Cairo, IL. At an early age, he 
found employment at a flooring company where he was paid 15 cents per 
hour. Racism forced blacks who were employed at the plant to work in 
the lowest paid and least desirable positions, and to endure insults 
and indignation. The black workers formed a local union, later 
recognized by the company as the Carpenter's Local Union 1424, and 
Charlie was elected president at the age of 20. The action started him 
on a long career dedicated to protecting the rights of workers.
  For more than 40 years, Charlie Hayes would fight to guarantee job 
benefits, equal employment opportunities and job protection for 
workers. He held various union posts including international field 
representative, district director, international vice president and 
regional director, and executive vice president. During his union days, 
Charlie was one of the highest ranking black elected union officials in 
the country.
  Charlie Hayes was also intimately involved in the civil rights 
movement in this country. He worked side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr., during the 1956 Montgomery bus boycott and the 1963 March on 
Washington. Charlie was also involved in the 1966 campaign for open 
housing in Chicago, the march in support of hospital workers in 
Charleston, SC, and Dr. King's last march in support of sanitary 
workers in Memphis, TN.
  Mr. Speaker, IN 1983 Charlie Hayes was elected to Congress from the 
First Congressional District of Illinois. He won the seat vacated by 
his friend, Harold Washington, following Harold's historic election as 
mayor of Chicago. Like many of my colleagues gathered in the Chamber 
this evening, I enjoyed a close friendship with Charlie Hayes. He was a 
hard working and dedicated public servant whom I respected and admired. 
He was also a close friend.
  We recall Charlie Hayes for his strong leadership on education 
issues. As a member of the Education Committee, he made great strides 
in addressing the Nation's school dropout rates. He introduced full 
employment legislation, denounced unemployment as ``morally 
unacceptable,'' and fought for national health insurance. Throughout 
his tenure, however, Charlie never forgot the working men and women of 
America. He stood strong for workers' rights and boasted a 100 percent 
voting record on issues important to labor.
  Mr. Speaker, it saddens me that Charlie Hayes has been taken from our 
midst. We are comforted, however, in knowing that he will never be 
forgotten. His contributions on behalf of the working men and women of 
this Nation, and on behalf of his constituents, has earned him a place 
in history. Charlie has found rest from his labors and he is at peace. 
I extend my sympathy to Charlie's family and the people of Illinois 
during this period of mourning.

                          ____________________