Strippers At Los Angeles Bar Unionize in Historic First

Strippers from the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood, CA have officially unionized! In a unanimous vote of 17-0, the group voted over a Zoom meeting with the National Labor Relations Board to join Actors Equity Association (AEA), and in so doing are part of a group of over 50,000 actors and stage managers around the country.

 

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The performers first began discussions of unionizing over a year ago and immediately faced backlash from the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar management. When a few of the performers voiced concerns for their safety, they were fired. And when any complained to management about the dangerous stage conditions, patrons filming them without their consent, and the complete lack of any Covid-19 safety protocols, the bar's management locked those performers out of the workplace. Then began the discussions of unionizing.

The owners lawyered up and fought the move to unionize. The battle went on for almost a year and a half with the bar's performers demanding fundamentally basic needs be met: better wages and safer working conditions. Included in the demands were better security to help protect the dancers' safety, particularly from the wasted patrons who often harass them. With no movement from management, the performers walked off the job on March 13, 2022 and took to their fight to the streets officially going on strike.

 

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With signs saying things like, "No Daddy Issues, Just Management Issues" and "My Body, My Money - Pay Up!" the performers marched, shouted, and stood up for their rights and their dignity, and gained supporters from around the world. They initially kept the strike locations a secret until they were confident they could have the support of numbers needed to keep them safe. Their jobs were on the line, but so was their actual safety. But once they were ready, the picket lines outside the bar became some of the best parties in the city, with wigged-up supporters shouting their support for the dancers outside the bar during the bar's busiest nights.

 

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Finally, at the beginning of the week of the 14th of May, the owners of the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar announced they would be dropping all challenges and agreed to recognize the union. Kate Shindle, the President of the AEA released a statement of support for the performers, saying, "We're looking forward to having a productive relationship with the club that benefits dancers and also helps the club to thrive."

Workers' rights are constantly under attack from the interests of those who want to make money no matter what the cost. Going back to the 1800s when the National Labor Union was formed in Baltimore, this country has deep roots in the need for protecting workers and providing them with safe working conditions and fair pay. Unions are the reason we have an 8-hour work day and are also the reason y'all get to enjoy Labor Day as a national holiday.

Congrats to these badass performers, and hopefully sex workers will be the next to unionize. Sex work is work, and everyone deserves to work in safe conditions with fair pay.

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