Nfter assaults and secret videotaping by guests, strippers at a California nightclub have demanded membership of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA). About 30 dancers from the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood signed a petition Wednesday to the federal Labor Relations Committee.
“Strippers are live entertainers. While some aspects of their job are unique, they have a lot in common with other members of the union who dance for a living,” said AEA chief Kate Shindle. The dispute between strippers and operators of the nightclub began in March. Back then, the dancers didn’t feel adequately protected by the security staff when drunken guests insulted, groped and filmed them against their will
With the support of Strippers United, many of the women took to the streets in front of the bar on Lankershim Boulevard for nights on end. “We like what we do. But we’d rather do it if we enjoyed basic labor protections,” said Velveeta, a dancer on Broadwayworld.com’s “Star Garden.”
The membership in the Actors’ Equity Association gives the stripper and her fellow members health insurance, compensation for work-related injuries and protection against wrongful termination.
