Strippers Unionizing

Rob1115
WTF, I mean really WTF. A club owner in LA we just forced to recognize a group of 15 strippers who have agreed to join Actors Equity. NLRB apparently did not buy the owner's argument that they were independent contractors who rented space Some how I can't imagine that will be good for us PLs.

21 comments

  • shadowcat
    •
    a year ago
    Already covered here:

    https://app.tuscl.net/discussion/82734
  • Jascoi
    •
    a year ago
    it's bad enough that in California they are considered employees. now it's going to cost even more...
  • Hank Moody
    •
    a year ago
    These stripper unionizing cases go back decades. It sucks when strippers want to charge more than the standard for a lap dance or set their own schedule, but that’s what an independent contractor does. If clubs want to set rules, they run the risk of violating employment and labor laws.
  • georgmicrodong
    •
    a year ago
    The issue is usually that clubs want to *classify* strippers as independent contractors for tax purposes, but *treat* them like employees. That's a no-no according to federal law, and probably even more of a no-no under California law. So if they're going to be treated as employees, they're going to be classified as such, and employees can join and/or form unions.

    It's the clubs' own damned fault for trying to have it both ways.
  • Garfield84
    •
    a year ago
    Unionize. WGAF. LA strip clubs are terrible
  • boomer79
    •
    a year ago
    As far as.dance prices and schedules I think the club can set limits without the girls being an employee. For one they can discount if certain combinations of shifts are taken and they agree to pay for those shifts with it being more expensive to just take more desitlrable nights.

    As far as dance prices you can let them charge whatever but have it be up to them to collect. The bouncer doesn’t have to get involved if the price is higher than what would be considered normal. As to lower that’s more about the other girls than the club as long as the club is getting its money.
  • ilbbaicnl
    •
    a year ago
    I wish strippers with good hustle would go Anarcho-Syndicalist and run a strip club as a workers' coop. I doubt they would charge more than the prevailing rates. They might even split the typical markup of club owners with PLs, to undercut their competition. Problem is, they probably wouldn't be strippers if they had enough capital to start a club. And banks rarely will loan $ to start an adult business. Banks probably aren't keen on Anarcho-Syndicalist worker coops either.
  • shadowcat
    •
    a year ago
    "The Lusty Lady Theater (San Francisco) first opened for business in the 1970s, and its workers came together to form a union in 1997. In 2003, when the owners announced that they wanted to close the club, the dancers decided to buy it from them, but after running for a decade as a cooperative the Lusty Lady finally shut up shop.Sep 12, 2013.
  • drewcareypnw
    •
    a year ago
    Who gives a fuck. We all drive cars made in unionized plants. Whatever you ate for dinner last night went through a half dozen union worker hands on its way to your pie hole, be it from the local super market or olive garden. I say let them sell pussy however they like. If we keep buying it's all good.
  • Rob1115
    •
    a year ago
    @drewcarewpnw. I have nothing against unions. I was a dues paying member of one for 6 years and frankly the fight against union membership has decimated the middle class. What I meant is that I don't understand why they would want a union. Negotiating over contracts, paying dues, oversight, union work rules. Granted I don't know the business but it doesn't seem to fit. Also, sorry for bringing it up. It's the first time I have heard about it.
  • ilbbaicnl
    •
    a year ago
    Seems reasonable they see their relationship to their employers as similar to actors with their employers.
  • Rob1115
    •
    a year ago
    @ilbbaicnl. I guess I just have never heard of it. I can't help believe that if they are unionized the employer will try to exert more control in terms of services etc. On the other hand I heard a comment from an Actor's Equity rep who was talking about safe working condition, difficult customers (no one from TUSCI I'm sure) glass on the stages (really?). I just don't know how exploitative the club owners are. I was also under the impression that the girls moved around quite a bit (the Playhouse being the exception)
  • drewcareypnw
    •
    a year ago
    @rob my thought is that management is organized (sometimes organized crime lol, or in Seattle’s case DISorganized crime haha), so labor may want to be as well. Unions aren’t all wine and roses as you know, so the strippers may not actually like having to agree on stuff, pay dues, etc.
  • motorhead
    •
    a year ago
    “it's the clubs' own damned fault for trying to have it both ways“

    George MD is ten thousand per correct. Club owners have blatantly been in violation of FSLA by mid classifying dancers as independent contractors.

    However…..the same applies to dancers. They can’t have it both ways either. I knew of the dancer that was Jane Doe from the Lansing, MI Deja Vu club whose lawsuit developed into a national class action suit.

    When her attorney made contact with the club, they immediately made the dancer an employee (not an independent contractor) and paid her minimum wage.

    And like every other employee her job description included the phrase “and perform other duties as assigned”

    No one here would be surprised - her income dropped when she was paid minimum wage and she didn’t like having to help the waitresses with occasional cleaning. She promptly quit.

    Dancers don’t always know what’s best for them
  • Rob1115
    •
    a year ago
    @motorhead and @drewcareypnw That's my point about the dancers. I believe these women are mostly paid in cash. I don't know how it works when a PL pays by credit card. Does the club give her a 1099? I spoke to one dancer a few years ago (a lawful permanent resident) who hadn't paid income tax in years (a bad idea). Also, where I am (Philly) I know of a good number of Brazilian women who will come to the US on a visitor visa for 4-5 months, work in a club (not legal) then go home for several months before returning.
  • twentyfive
    •
    a year ago
    Are we going to be checking these girls for the Union Label ?
  • funonthaside
    •
    a year ago
    Other than PL, where in Philly are you hiding the Brazilian mujeres?

    We already get the "I'll get in trouble" and "Owner is watching" lines. Imagine if they were employees. Another topic for another time, but why use those ridiculous excuses....just say "don't do that...I don't like your nasty crusty hands on me".

    Regarding taxes....many girls just don't get the risk of the mountain of mess they will be on when someone discovers they have substantial unreported income. It's not just the IRS..they are at risk of being accused of welfare/insurance fraud.

    The only way they could really get away with it is if they have a supportive SO/roommate under which leases exist.
  • Rob1115
    •
    a year ago
    @funontheside Raven and Oasis are the two I know of. Although one of my Faves at Raven, Nicole is now at PL because of cameras. I believe there are still a couple others at Raven but haven't been there in a while.
  • ilbbaicnl
    •
    a year ago
    The drink-leer-don't-tip behavior seems to be getting more common, especially at some clubs. Maybe a union is needed so they're sure to make money rather than lose it by working. Like a base salary for a commissioned sales job.
  • funonthaside
    •
    a year ago
    Base Wage = Higher Cover / Drinks, and we still need to subsidize the cheap bastards when we are in club.
  • ilbbaicnl
    •
    a year ago
    @fun how so? If the cover paid the base wage, everyone be kicking in. PLs would be less put off by high covers, if clubs would refund all or most of it if you stayed less than 15 minutes. Who hasn't paid a cover, and didn't get one dance, because no dancer was attractive to you.

    The main problem is that firing an employee is highly regulated. Most employers would get sued for firing someone for not being groped on enough.
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