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Person

Cindy Estrada

Nationality:

American
Occupation:

Union Official
Political Party:

Democratic Party
Residence:

Whitmore Lake, Michigan

Cindy Estrada is a vice president of the United Automobile Workers (UAW). Identified as a “key to the UAW’s future,” 1 Estrada is the head of the Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), Organizing, and Women’s Departments of the labor union. 2

Estrada is a lifelong Democrat. 3 She has publicly supported the Biden administration, 4 5 advocates using the critical race-theory inspired concept of a “social justice fight” to make the United States a better place, 6  and has referred to dismantling of labor unions in the American south as “anti-black.” 7

She sits on the board of the left-leaning Mi Familia Vota, 8 is a member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, 9 and previously was an organizer for the United Farm Workers labor union. 10

Career

Cindy Estrada is a vice president of the United Automobile Workers (UAW) labor union. As of February 2022, she heads the Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), Organizing, and Women’s Departments of the union. 11 Identified as a “key to the UAW’s future,” 12 Estrada first joined the UAW as an organizer in 1995 13 and is the first woman to run UAW’s General Motors (GM) department. 14

Estrada publicly supports the Biden administration; 15 16 opposes the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and what she calls “immigrant and refugee bashing.” 17

Estrada supports the unionization of Amazon employees, 18 advocates using the critical race-theory inspired concept of a “social justice fight” to make the United States a better place, 19 and has referred to dismantling of labor unions in the American South as “anti-black.” 20

In 2021, Estrada received the Jewish Labor Committee’s Human Rights Award. 21

Previously, Estrada was an organizer for the United Farm Workers labor union, 22 organized Spanish-speaking manufacturing workers at Mexican Industries in southwest Detroit in 1995, 23 ran the Michigan Organizing Center, 24 and led negotiations for the Michigan Coalition of State Employee Unions. She also led the union’s General Motors Department. 25

She also is on the boards of the left-leaning Mi Familia Vota, The National Advisory Committee for Labor Provisions of Free Trade Agreements, the Economic Alliance of Michigan, and the Advisory Board of Labor at Wayne State University. 26

Estrada is a lifelong Democrat and a member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. 27

Controversy

Cindy Estrada was identified by the Detroit News as linked to a Federal investigation into corruption at the UAW that was ultimately settled in December 2020. Estrada was not charged with any wrongdoing 28 in the investigation that resulted in charges against two former UAW presidents, imposition of a monitor on the group, and a $1.5 million payment to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 29

Political Activities

Cindy Estrada is a lifelong member of the Democratic Party. 30 She has publicly supported the Biden administration 31 and its Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh. 32

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Estrada attacked President Donald Trump as “anti-union” 33 and endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. 34 She called President Trump a “racist” in 2018. 35

In 2016, Estrada supported the presidential campaign of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D), 36 said that there is “never a reason to vote for Trump,” 37 and was an introduction speaker for then-President Barack Obama during a visit to the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources in Detroit, Michigan. 38

Estrada has also made Federal Election Commission-reportable contributions to the Committee for Good Government International Union UAW, the UAW labor union’s qualified political action committee (PAC). 39 40

Personal Information

Cindy Estrada received an education degree from the University of Michigan. 41 She was born in 1968 and resides in Whitmore Lake, Michigan. 42 43

References

  1. Lessenberry, Jack. “Cindy Estrada might be the key to UAW’s future.” The Toledo Blade. February 19, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.toledoblade.com/JackLessenberry/2016/02/19/Cindy-Estrada-might-be-the-key-to-UAW-s-future/stories/feed/index.rss.
  2. “Most Influential Women.” Crain’s Detroit Business. June 2, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/awards/cindy-estrada.
  3. “Cindy Estrada.” Social Transformation Project. Accessed February 22, 2022. http://stproject.org/lio_directory/cindy-estrada/.
  4. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted January 21, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://twitter.com/cindyestradauaw/status/1484660075075620864?s=21.
  5. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted October 8, 2021. https://twitter.com/cindyestradauaw/status/1446581494156300289?s=21
  6. Admin. “A White Shirt Day message from Vice President Cindy Estrada.” UAW Local 652. February 11, 2021. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/awards/cindy-estrada.
  7. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted February 22, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://twitter.com/CindyEstradaUAW/status/1496233708944302086?cxt=HHwWjIC5qbCo2MMpAAAA.
  8. “Cindy Estrada.” Social Transformation Project. Accessed February 22, 2022. http://stproject.org/lio_directory/cindy-estrada/.
  9. “Cindy Estrada.” Social Transformation Project. Accessed February 22, 2022. http://stproject.org/lio_directory/cindy-estrada/.
  10. “UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada.” United Auto Workers. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://uaw.org/executive-board-2-2/uaw-vice-president-estrada/.
  11. “Most Influential Women.” Crain’s Detroit Business. June 2, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/awards/cindy-estrada.
  12. Lessenberry, Jack. “Cindy Estrada might be the key to UAW’s future.” The Toledo Blade. February 19, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.toledoblade.com/JackLessenberry/2016/02/19/Cindy-Estrada-might-be-the-key-to-UAW-s-future/stories/feed/index.rss.
  13. “UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada.” United Auto Workers. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://uaw.org/executive-board-2-2/uaw-vice-president-estrada/.
  14. Gardner, Greg. “Meet the labor leader who will face off with GM.” Detroit Free Press. May 18, 2015. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.freep.com/story/money/2015/05/18/uaw-mary-barra-cindy-estrada-general-motors/27177279/.
  15. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted January 21, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://twitter.com/cindyestradauaw/status/1484660075075620864?s=21.
  16. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted October 8, 2021. https://twitter.com/cindyestradauaw/status/1446581494156300289?s=21.
  17.  Lessenberry, Jack. “An Hour With… Cindy Estrada.” Hour Detroit. March 10, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.hourdetroit.com/community/an-hour-with-cindy-estrada/.
  18. “Twitter.” Tweet. Posted February 15, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://twitter.com/CindyEstradaUAW/status/1493773123283566593?cxt=HHwWgoC-xbiv-bopAAAA.
  19. Admin. “A White Shirt Day message from Vice President Cindy Estrada.” UAW Local 652. February 11, 2021. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/awards/cindy-estrada.
  20. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted February 22, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://twitter.com/CindyEstradaUAW/status/1496233708944302086?cxt=HHwWjIC5qbCo2MMpAAAA.
  21. “UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada Receives Jewish Labor Committee’s Human Rights Award.” United Auto Workers. December 9, 2021. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://uaw.org/uaw-vice-president-cindy-estrada-receives-jewish-labor-committees-human-rights-award/.
  22.  “UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada.” United Auto Workers. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://uaw.org/executive-board-2-2/uaw-vice-president-estrada/.
  23. “UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada.” United Auto Workers. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://uaw.org/executive-board-2-2/uaw-vice-president-estrada/.
  24. “UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada.” United Auto Workers. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://uaw.org/executive-board-2-2/uaw-vice-president-estrada/.
  25. “UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada.” United Auto Workers. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://uaw.org/executive-board-2-2/uaw-vice-president-estrada/.
  26. “Cindy Estrada.” Social Transformation Project. Accessed February 22, 2022. http://stproject.org/lio_directory/cindy-estrada/.
  27. “Cindy Estrada.” Social Transformation Project. Accessed February 22, 2022. http://stproject.org/lio_directory/cindy-estrada/.
  28. Snell, Robert. “UAW watchdog gets access to secret files as Jones seeks prison break.” The Detroit News. August 9, 2021. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.autonews.com/awards/2015-leading-women-cindy-estrada-uaw.
  29. Samilton, Tracy. “UAW, U.S. DOJ, settle corruption investigation with consent agreement.”  Michigan Radio. December 14, 2020. Accessed February 25, 2022. https://www.michiganradio.org/law/2020-12-14/uaw-u-s-doj-settle-corruption-investigation-with-consent-agreement.
  30. “Cindy Estrada.” Social Transformation Project. Accessed February 22, 2022. http://stproject.org/lio_directory/cindy-estrada/.
  31. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted January 21, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://twitter.com/cindyestradauaw/status/1484660075075620864?s=21.
  32. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted February 16, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://twitter.com/CindyEstradaUAW/status/1494067181352538118?cxt=HHwWjMCy8e-L_7spAAAA.
  33. Lawrence, Eric D. “Prominent UAW leader Cindy Estrada blasts Trump as ‘always anti-union’.” Detroit Free Press. August 25, 2020. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2020/08/25/uaw-cindy-estrada-donald-trump-unions/3432177001/.
  34. “Vice President Cindy Estrada” This Election is Critical for Us All.” United Auto Workers. August 19, 2022. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://uaw.org/vice-president-cindy-estrada-election-critical-us/.
  35.  “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted January 11, 2018. https://twitter.com/cindyestradauaw/status/951624744356536321?s=21.
  36. “Twitter.” Tweet. July 25, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://twitter.com/cindyestradauaw/status/757763412747321348?s=21
  37. “Twitter.” Tweet. Posted July 9, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://twitter.com/cindyestradauaw/status/751818481318887425?s=21.
  38. “President Obama in Detroit, Michigan.” C-SPAN. January 20, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.c-span.org/video/?403444-1/president-obama-remarks-detroit-michigan&event=403444&playEvent&auto.
  39. Cindy Estrada.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 23, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=cindy%20estrada.
  40. “Committee for Good Government International Union UAW.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed February 23, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00002832/.
  41. “UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada.” United Auto Workers. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://uaw.org/executive-board-2-2/uaw-vice-president-estrada/.
  42. [1] “100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry.” Automotive News. 2015. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.autonews.com/awards/2015-leading-women-cindy-estrada-uaw.
  43. “Cindy Estrada.” Federal Election Commission. Individual Contributions. Accessed February 23, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=cindy%20estrada.
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