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In what could define live entertainment history, 15 months after attempting to unionize, dancers at a Los Angeles gentlemen’s club are one step closer to becoming the first group of strippers to form a union in America.
During a settlement hearing with union club attorneys, lawyers representing management of the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood agreed to withdraw election challenges and recognize the union, the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), an established labor union announced Tuesday.
The bar’s lawyers plan to meet with the association, a national union “representing more than 51,000 actors and stage managers in live entertainment,” at the bargaining table within 30 days to negotiate the contract, according to a statement from the union.
Actors’ Equity Association President Kate Shindle called the recognition historical.
“Every worker who wants a union deserves a union,” Shindle said in the release. “The Star Garden dancers have been absolute warriors throughout this long process, and I’m thrilled that we’ve won recognition of their rights to safety and democracy in the workplace and representation at the bargaining table.”
The recognition drew praise from the LA club’s talent.
“I’m excited that all of my beautiful coworkers will finally have a seat at the table and a voice to discuss safety and other issues,” said Sinder, a Star Garden dancer. “This is a big day for us and dancers everywhere.”
Another Star Garden dancer, Lilith, called said the move not only a win for her fellow dancers, but, “the entire strip club industry. Strippers who want to unionize their workplaces and have a voice in the way their clubs are run now have a clear path forward.”
Locked out after demanding safer conditions
Dancers at the dive bar said they were locked out of the club in March 2022 after raising issues including health and safety concerns and unfair termination, the L.A. Times reported last year.
The employees took to the streets to protest, the outlet reported, and in August 2022, the dancers filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal agency working to protect the rights of private sector employees, according to its website.
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The dancers are expected to vote to unionize this week, AEA posted on its website.
“Strippers will be reinstated,” the the union wrote, detailing the next steps. “Bargaining for a first contract to begin with the assistance of Actors’ Equity Association; club to reopen and dancers to return to the stage.”
Club management could not immediately be reached by USA TODAY. The phone number to the club listed online was disconnected Wednesday.
The group is not the first to try and seek union recognition, according to AEA.
In 1997, dancers in San Francisco’s Lusty Lady organized the Exotic Dancers Union affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, AEA said. The club shuttered its doors in 2013.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
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