First Strippers’ Union In A Decade Is Expected To Form This Week

Get ready for a groundbreaking development in the world of adult entertainment as the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood prepares to engage in negotiations with a union of strippers who were previously dismissed from the club. These courageous women had taken a stand in March 2022, protesting for safer working conditions and picketing outside the establishment for months. The eagerly anticipated negotiations are expected to take place after a settlement hearing involving union attorneys. When the official ballots are opened later this week, it is highly anticipated that the strippers will overwhelmingly win the union election. This historic victory will mark the formation of the first known union of strippers in the United States since the closure of San Francisco's Lusty Lady, the nation's only unionized strip club, in 2013. The strippers will be represented by the prestigious Actor's Equity Association, which announced that both sides have agreed to come to the bargaining table within 30 days to establish their first contract. Additionally, the club has committed to rehiring the dancers who were dismissed last year. Sinder, a dancer at Star Garden, expressed her excitement, stating, "I'm thrilled that all of my beautiful coworkers will finally have a seat at the table and a voice to address safety and other concerns. This is a monumental day for us and dancers everywhere." Star Garden had been closed for the past few months, and its owners had filed for bankruptcy. However, with the involvement of the National Labor Relations Board and the concerned parties, the club's owners are seeking to dismiss the bankruptcy case, paving the way for a reopening in the next 30 to 60 days. Representing the club, Attorney An Nguyen Ruda shared a statement emphasizing that Star Garden has always been an employer that values fairness and equal opportunities while respecting the rights of its employees. The club is fully committed to engaging in good-faith negotiations with Actor's Equity to establish a groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement that is fair to all parties involved. The union representing the dancers applauded this partnership, emphasizing the shared characteristics between strippers and other performance artists. Actors' Equity Association President Kate Shindle stated, "Every worker who desires a union deserves a union. The Star Garden dancers have displayed unwavering determination throughout this extensive process, and I am elated that we have achieved recognition of their rights to workplace safety, democracy, and representation at the bargaining table." This remarkable milestone not only provides the dancers with a platform to voice their concerns but also sets a precedent for the adult entertainment industry, demonstrating that strippers, like any other workers, deserve respect, fair treatment, and the opportunity to organize for their rights.