Minneapolis ordinance to protect adult entertainment workers moves forward
http://m.startribune.com/city-ordinance-…
One after another, workers from Minneapolis’ adult entertainment world shared their stories Monday with City Council members.
They had gathered for a public hearing on the city’s proposed ordinance designed to protect exotic dancers from financial exploitation and provide a safer and cleaner work environment.
Most supported the ordinance as an important first step to help workers in an industry where rights are often ignored by the government. Others said they had no problems with current working conditions, and that clubs that don’t treat workers well should be dealt with on an individual basis.
The four council members making the quorum for the Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights, and Engagement Committee voted unanimously to pass the ordinance, which will be heard by the full council next week. Council Member Linea Palmisano said every worker in the city deserves a safe environment and that the ordinance should help undo some of the stigmas associated with the industry.
“I’m really proud that this was an empowering conversation for workers,” she said.
The ordinance would prohibit club management from requiring performers to turn over a portion of their tips at the end of a shift. Management would also be required to give performers written contracts upon hiring, along with the club’s anti-discrimination policies.
For safety, entertainers would be given security escorts when leaving after a shift and cameras would be required in closed, private dancing areas.
Clubs could not employ managers or security staff with recent domestic violence convictions. The ordinance would also set new sanitation standards, requiring staff to immediately clean up and keep a log of bodily fluid “spills.”
The council chamber was filled for the nearly two-hour hearing, with many holding signs that read “Minneapolis Supports Strippers.”
In drafting the ordinance, the city reached out to workers in the adult entertainment industry through studies by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State University-Mankato and the Sex Workers Outreach Project, representatives from the industry and workplace advisory council.
Those studies concluded that workers dealt with physical injuries because of unsafe stages, sexual and physical assault, cleanliness problems, unclear customer expectations and a lack of support from management.
A representative of Déjà Vu and two other downtown clubs said he supported the ordinance, but was concerned that businesses wouldn’t have enough time to comply with design requirements.
Monica, a former dancer who is now a worker’s rights advocate, said the ordinance is really a list of common-sense protections. She was particularly angered at giving tips to management, because they already make a wage.
Stephen Befort, a University of Minnesota law professor, said a state law already prohibits employers from requiring tips or accepting them. A major issue is that dancers are often classified as independent contractors and not employees, which severely limits their workplace rights.
Government has contributed to workplaces problems in clubs because they view adult entertainment as a “social nuisance” and “something to cover up,” said Jayne Swift, an organizer for Minneapolis’ chapter of Sex Workers Outreach Project who worked on the Mankato study.
Tara, a dancer who works at Downtown Cabaret, said she has rarely been harassed at the clubs she has danced at for the last 15 years. She believes sharing tips is worthwhile since those employees protect her when needed.
Several women of color who worked at clubs said that they have faced discrimination. Several clubs had told them that more than two women of color couldn’t work on the same shift, and that they often received less-busy time slots.
Council Member Cam Gordon, who drafted the ordinance, said he originally thought that all that needed to be done was to close the VIP rooms and classify all the workers as employees instead of independent contractors.
He soon found out those were things that dancers wanted preserved.
Committee Chair Phillipe Cunningham thanked the dancers for speaking out because they could face retaliation from club owners.
“This may be a radical statement coming from a council member, but sex work is work,” he said.
Council Member Andrea Jenkins said passing the ordinance is a step in the right direction “to really lift up and support all sex workers.”
One after another, workers from Minneapolis’ adult entertainment world shared their stories Monday with City Council members.
They had gathered for a public hearing on the city’s proposed ordinance designed to protect exotic dancers from financial exploitation and provide a safer and cleaner work environment.
Most supported the ordinance as an important first step to help workers in an industry where rights are often ignored by the government. Others said they had no problems with current working conditions, and that clubs that don’t treat workers well should be dealt with on an individual basis.
The four council members making the quorum for the Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights, and Engagement Committee voted unanimously to pass the ordinance, which will be heard by the full council next week. Council Member Linea Palmisano said every worker in the city deserves a safe environment and that the ordinance should help undo some of the stigmas associated with the industry.
“I’m really proud that this was an empowering conversation for workers,” she said.
The ordinance would prohibit club management from requiring performers to turn over a portion of their tips at the end of a shift. Management would also be required to give performers written contracts upon hiring, along with the club’s anti-discrimination policies.
For safety, entertainers would be given security escorts when leaving after a shift and cameras would be required in closed, private dancing areas.
Clubs could not employ managers or security staff with recent domestic violence convictions. The ordinance would also set new sanitation standards, requiring staff to immediately clean up and keep a log of bodily fluid “spills.”
The council chamber was filled for the nearly two-hour hearing, with many holding signs that read “Minneapolis Supports Strippers.”
In drafting the ordinance, the city reached out to workers in the adult entertainment industry through studies by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State University-Mankato and the Sex Workers Outreach Project, representatives from the industry and workplace advisory council.
Those studies concluded that workers dealt with physical injuries because of unsafe stages, sexual and physical assault, cleanliness problems, unclear customer expectations and a lack of support from management.
A representative of Déjà Vu and two other downtown clubs said he supported the ordinance, but was concerned that businesses wouldn’t have enough time to comply with design requirements.
Monica, a former dancer who is now a worker’s rights advocate, said the ordinance is really a list of common-sense protections. She was particularly angered at giving tips to management, because they already make a wage.
Stephen Befort, a University of Minnesota law professor, said a state law already prohibits employers from requiring tips or accepting them. A major issue is that dancers are often classified as independent contractors and not employees, which severely limits their workplace rights.
Government has contributed to workplaces problems in clubs because they view adult entertainment as a “social nuisance” and “something to cover up,” said Jayne Swift, an organizer for Minneapolis’ chapter of Sex Workers Outreach Project who worked on the Mankato study.
Tara, a dancer who works at Downtown Cabaret, said she has rarely been harassed at the clubs she has danced at for the last 15 years. She believes sharing tips is worthwhile since those employees protect her when needed.
Several women of color who worked at clubs said that they have faced discrimination. Several clubs had told them that more than two women of color couldn’t work on the same shift, and that they often received less-busy time slots.
Council Member Cam Gordon, who drafted the ordinance, said he originally thought that all that needed to be done was to close the VIP rooms and classify all the workers as employees instead of independent contractors.
He soon found out those were things that dancers wanted preserved.
Committee Chair Phillipe Cunningham thanked the dancers for speaking out because they could face retaliation from club owners.
“This may be a radical statement coming from a council member, but sex work is work,” he said.
Council Member Andrea Jenkins said passing the ordinance is a step in the right direction “to really lift up and support all sex workers.”
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36 comments
2. "keep a log of bodily fluid “spills.”" WTF???
How is that going to work? RevHorny's desplooginations must now be logged and reported to the state?
Really?
And lol at having to tip for “protection” Fucking crooks.
That makes sense. And it's low hanging fruit for good club policy.
"... and cameras would be required in closed, private dancing areas."
Predictably, this wouldn't thrill me.
"Clubs could not employ managers or security staff with recent domestic violence convictions."
And that should be a no-brainer.
"... new sanitation standards, requiring staff to immediately clean up and keep a log of bodily fluid 'spills.'"
And the winner of the "Most Hilarious Excel Spreadsheet" of 2019 goes to...
I'm with Papi. When government gets involved, it's usually not great. And often "safety and protection" becomes a vehicle to regulate adult businesses out of business.
The sad reality is that most strip clubs don't need to jump through hoops of fire to avoid this sort of scrutiny.
Staff will need to write a 300-page novel just on the inside of LapDanceKing's pants alone
Does the log have to contain the name of the customer that spilled their bodily fluid?
Can we get a log posted of which dancers most frequently cause bodily fluids to be spilled?
Okay with?...Likely not.
Could this be the dawn of BYOM clubs? (Bring Your Own Mop)
In this kind of industry, Sex Work, market forces really are what best advantage and protect dancers The more clubs, the better. Portland has the highest percapita, do dancers there complain?
Our dancer there only complained about the fines and rules in the upscale clubs. She liked the dives just fine.
Thanks for posting this Nicespice, please do keep us informed.
SJG
After the swimming pool stuff; check out the girl playing the electric mandolin! I guess she is wearing a flapper dress, unhindered by a bra. Like her big tits. Looks rather tall. And I love the full thighs. Anyone know who she is? Would not be easy to assemble a group of musicians who could play this so well, so much like the original recording. But I really like that one girl. My tastes have changed, post marriage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsYenrhb…
@nicespice, how bout posting some picts of your pussy instead of those lame photos on your profile page :P
@muddy The club I’m technically at is a suburb club, not a downtown Minneapolis club. I don’t think I’m affected. Amusingly enough, the club I’m at has the rep for the lowest mileage in the area...and dancers and customers both would claim downtown Minneapolis clubs are like brothels. But I see plenty of gym short wearing customers, and for some of them I’m almost certain there’s some kind of bodily fluid spilling shenanigans going on.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/38/e7/55/38e75…
Hells yeah wuf wuf
Which idk what to make of my mileage. Another dancer one time walked up to me and told me to chill out on that. But I haven’t seen her in a while. And staff members...who I know watches the cameras, seem okay with me. So I’m not too sure where on the scale I’m on but I hope it’s not bad. 😐 It seems like plenty of other dancers grind tho.
As far as dudes LDKing...not sure to what extent. I know of one because he explicitly told me so. And another customer (who I didn’t talk to on stage or on the floor at all prior) walked up to me and automatically wanted to do a 3 song VIP...and afterwards he tips $10 and leaves the club. It’s just the gym shorts I find suspicious lol. A customer told me that downtown clubs tend to not allow them but that club is perfectly okay with it.
@muddy LMAO. I don’t actually believe it. I asked a TUSCLer about what actually happens in downtown clubs. It seems dirtier acts are few and far between.
I can't think of too many things in history where government got involved and people ended up with more freedom or liberty. Chances are, we'll hear down the road how clubs are closing down because of increased government regulation. For their protection, the ladies shouldn't have to do X.......and for the safety of the customers, guys cannot do Y...and so on and so on.
And yes, I can attest that LDKs are definitely possible in their VIP, as I've had to ask multiple dancers to back off on their grind because I didn't want to LDK...
But what is more problematic is that dancers testifying. Maybe they were retired, to fat and old to work anymore?
Current dancers need to come up with a counter line, just like was done in Detroit and NOLA.
SJG
@SJG The dancers were given $50 and snacks for their time when they were testifying.
Still hard to imagine current dancers going and asking for regulations. Even if they do find aspects of the club objectionable, they must understand that more regulations will be very destructive. Most of the time dancers want to be able to do things their way, so long as they can be selective.
And who gave them the $50 and the snacks?
Just like in NOLA and Detroit, important for active dancers to make it clear that they can take care of themselves and that they don't need any more regulations.
SJG
They city wanted to shut down VIP Rooms and the dancers said no we want to keep them.
The conclusion of all of this is really, really good for everyone. Minneapolis clubs aren’t amazing like other big cities but still decent and this keeps them that way.
For once citizens and the local government worked together. In the past most cities have shut down clubs entirely.
I this case I think dancer activism could make a big difference, like it did in NOLA.
Remember, they are talking about rules which apply no where else except in a licensed adult entertainment locale. The ordinances will be unconstitutional, but getting a court to decide this is usually impractical.
For those dancers who want to keep working, I suggest getting involved and making it known that they do not want any more rules.
SJG
Being a corner of PA that is between OH and NY, maybe it was a kind of a vice zone?
So they got these new regs and that collapsed.
So now there is one club out of town a ways.
As I see it, derailing these new Minneapolis unconstitutional regs is extremely important.
SJG