Facebook

Ed Hayden, Executive Vice President of the ACEA, Dies at 58

Edward J. Hayden passed away Friday, July 6, 2007, at his home in Merton. A dedicated employee of the Allied Construction Employers Association (ACEA), Ed was a well-known advocate for labor and management cooperation throughout Wisconsin and the nation. He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 34 years, his son, Paul (Elizabeth) and daughter Jennifer.

Nancy said that he worked tirelessly at his job, but always had time to lend a hand when needed. “He gave it his all at work,” she said. “If somebody needed something, he'd help in any way he could.”

Ed was the executive vice president of the Allied Construction Employers Association and was a trustee on the Building Trades United Pension Trust Fund and numerous Taft-Hartley healthcare plans. He served on multiple sub-committees for day-to-day operations of the Pension Trust Fund and served on the State of Wisconsin workers' compensation committee. He served as co-chair of the Construction Labor Management Council (CLMC) of Southeast Wisconsin, founded the ACEA Waukesha County All-Construction Career Fair – the largest construction fair in the state – and served as liaison and supporter of the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees (JATC) in Wisconsin. He also served as safety director of the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee for a number of years.

Nancy said that despite his professional achievements, Ed was a humble man who never liked the limelight. “He never would like to toot his own horn,” she said. According to Nancy, Ed testified three times in front of Congress on safety issues – but he “never made a big to-do about it.” He also wrote textbooks for use in union safety training courses and traveled the country to share his safety expertise.

In 2001, Ed won the Melvin Lurie Labor-Management Cooperation Prize for promoting the practice and furthering the development of cooperation between labor and management. It recognizes individuals for outstanding service in the cause of promotion, creating or researching labor-management cooperation. Nancy said this award was his crowning achievement. “He was always proud of how labor and management were working together,” she said.

Although Ed spent much of his time training others and imparting his significant amount of construction knowledge, he always made his family a priority. Ed was also an avid outdoorsman, charter member of the Sugar Island Sportsmans Club, Ducks Unlimited supporter and a gun enthusiast. One of his favorite family pastimes was to enjoy a Saturday morning breakfast with his family.

“We had a standing date,” said Nancy. “No matter how busy it got, we always made time to get together and do that.”

Ed contributed a wealth of knowledge and unparalleled dedication to union construction in Southeastern Wisconsin and beyond. He will be missed by everyone in our industry, and would be proud to know that we will continue to promote labor and management working together.

Power of One Newsletters