It Looks Like a Strippers’ Union Is About to Become a Reality
Dancers at the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in Los Angeles have recently received positive signs from the National Labor Relations Board, which bodes well for their contested union drive. If all goes as expected, they will be the only unionized strippers in the country.
Supporters join strippers for a rally outside the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar on August 19, 2022 in North Hollywood, California. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)
In March of 2022, a group of strippers walked off the job in Los Angeles, drawing national attention in their bid to become the country’s only unionized strip club.
Now the striking dancers of Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood may finally be close to winning their union.
In December, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said in a complaint that the dancers had been unlawfully fired and locked out for raising safety concerns. Next month, the NLRB is expected to seek the dancers’ reinstatement in a hearing. This all bodes well for the dancers’ union election, which was held in the fall but stalled after the strip club owners contested most of their ballots, claiming that the dancers aren’t employees.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.