Chippendales Dancers Look to Unionize With Actors’ Equity

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As a seasoned gamer and a lifelong observer of pop culture, I’ve seen it all – from the rise and fall of iconic brands to the evolution of labor rights in various industries. The recent move by the Chippendales dancers to unionize with Actors’ Equity Association is an interesting turn of events, to say the least.

The Chippendale performers aim to join forces with Actors’ Equity Association, a union that currently advocates for approximately 51,000 professional actors and stage managers on Broadway and in live theater, as it continues to grow its influence.

The dancers are members of a well-known all-male dance troupe, renowned for their strip performances, located at the Rio hotel and casino in Las Vegas. They frequently travel both domestically and abroad for shows. In an attempt to secure better pay and benefits, these performers have decided to join a union.

The dancers spearheading this unionization assert their deep affection for Chippendales and pride in being associated with such an outstanding organization. However, they also express concerns about the current working conditions not aligning with industry norms. To uphold the tradition of delivering top-tier entertainment that Chippendales is known for, they advocate for a workplace that matches this standard – one offering fair compensation, good benefits, safety, and accountability.

The union has requested the employer to voluntarily acknowledge it and has also submitted a request for an election to the National Labor Relations Board. Should the employer choose to grant voluntary recognition, the union would then withdraw its petition with the NLRB.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve been keeping an eye on some interesting developments in the world of entertainment. Recently, Actors’ Equity, a union known for representing theater actors, has expanded its horizons. It’s now representing characters and parade departments at Disneyland, lecturers at LA planetariums, and even the Drunk Shakespeare companies!

The Chippendales dancers first connected with Equity through a form on the union’s website.

Marci Skolnick, a local leader in the Las Vegas Equity community, expressed delight as the Chippendales joined our group. The triumph of the Culinary Workers Union, which secured union status for hospitality workers all over the strip, demonstrates that Las Vegas has been, and continues to be, a union-friendly city. Actors’ Equity Association aims to assist the Chippendales in obtaining union contracts and benefits, ensuring they can earn a decent living while excelling at their profession.

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2024-10-08 18:24