Strippers want to unionize in Los Angeles

Dancers at a Los Angeles strip club took their first steps toward unionization on Wednesday, becoming the latest group of American workers to seek collective bargaining power.

The stars of the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar have filed a petition with the federal government, initiating a lawsuit that could see them represented by the artists’ union Actors’ Equity, a move officials described as unheard of.

“We like what we do,” said Velveeta, a dancer at Star Garden. “We would like our jobs even more if we had basic labor protections.”

The Equity syndicate already represents more than 51,000 artists and producers in the United States, many of them in and around Los Angeles.

“Strippers are live performers, and while many aspects of their work are unique, they have a lot in common with other Equity members who make a living from dancing,” said union president Kate Shindle.

“These dancers reported ongoing pay issues — including significant salary theft — along with health and safety risks and violations.”

“They want health insurance and other benefits like workers’ compensation. They need protection from sexual harassment, discrimination and unfair dismissal.”

The petition has been submitted to the National Council on Labor Relations, which is expected to schedule a vote for the thirty eligible strippers.

If a majority vote for unionization, the Equity union will begin negotiating a new contract with Star Garden on behalf of the dancers.

Meanwhile, the exotic dancers say they will be holding a demonstration in front of the club in the North Hollywood area of ​​the city.

The campaign is supported by Strippers United, a non-profit group that advocates for dancers’ rights.

No one at Star Garden responded to the report on Wednesday.

While Equity has never had stripper members, it’s not the first time they’ve organized in the United States.

The dancers who work at San Francisco’s Lusty Lady formed the Exotic Dancers Union in 1996, Equity noted. That club closed in 2013.

Wednesday’s move comes amid increased interest from workers across the United States to unionize, with employees at various Starbucks branches among the most prominent.

Until the first three quarters of fiscal year 2022 –from October 1st to June 30th – 1,935 unionization campaigns were presented to the National Labor Relations Board, 56% more than in the previous year.