DETROIT -- Central United Methodist Church presents its 2011 Labor Award to UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada at the Seventh Annual Peace and Justice Banquet on Dec. 4 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center at 6 p.m.

The award recognizes significant contributions to peace and justice by individuals on behalf of workers. 

A longtime union organizer and social activist, Estrada is the first Latina elected as a UAW International vice president. She is credited with leading efforts to bring about one of the largest UAW organizing victories in manufacturing with Spanish-speaking workers at Mexican Industries in southwest Detroit.  

Before being elected a vice president, Estrada led the union's National Organizing Department helping to empower workers and secure rights and protections on the job.

In the wake of recent attacks on U.S. public sector workers, Estrada recently led negotiations between the Coalition of State Employee Unions and the State of Michigan to gain a new tentative agreement covering 35,000 state employees. The agreement contains groundbreaking provisions that require the parties to work together on new solutions to address longstanding structural operational inefficiencies and identify health care reforms that could save the state hundreds of millions of dollars.  

Estrada joins a list of distinguished labor leaders to receive the Labor Award, including UAW Vice President General Holiefield, who directs the union's Chrysler Department; former congressman David Bonior, board chair of American Rights at Work; and Millie Hall, president of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW).

Several other activists will be recognized at the banquet, including Vanessa G. Fluker, Detroit attorney; Fr. Roy Bourgeois, senior cleric, Maryknoll Missionaries and founder of the SOA Watch; and Dawud Walid, executive director, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Michigan, and Iman of Masjid Wali Muhammad.

Estrada also is an active member of CLUW and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA).

The banquet features keynote speaker Ed Schultz, progressive radio and talk show host of "The Ed Show" on MSNBC.

Dinner tickets are $125; VIP tickets are $200 and include preferred dinner seating and admission to a VIP reception with Schultz and other award honorees. Tickets may be purchased at centralumcpeaceandjustice.com or by calling 313-965-5422, ext. 130. Proceeds benefit the many programs and ministries of Central UMC.

Founded 201 years ago, Central UMC is a reconciling congregation with a long and rich history of crusading for the rights of those often ignored or overlooked by society. The church is recognized for fighting racism, promoting peace, feeding the homeless and providing access to health care for those in need. The church welcomes all people regardless of socio-economic status, race, religion, gender identification or sexuality.

For more information, please contact Deb Patrick at 248-227-4188 or e-mail peacejusticebanquet@yahoo.com. A photo of Estrada and her extended bio are available upon request.