Strippers Are Workers! - Working Washington

Strippers are workers!

• Strippers Are Workers
• The dancers safety & security bill (HB 1756)
• FAQ: Dancers safety & security bill
• House fees at strip clubs in WA
• Stigma against stripping
• Strippers Are Workers Open Letter
• Dancers are speaking out
• saw open letter graphic

Click here to read the open letter from WA Strippers to city & state lawmakers!

Adult dancing can be a path to economic mobility for many workers in Washington. But right now, WA dancers are facing a predatory business model that strips workers of rights and fair pay. And we’re speaking out to change that.

We don’t get paid a wage by the clubs we work for — in fact, we have to pay to work. We’re required to pay the clubs “house fees” of $140 - $200 every night, plus additional fees and mandatory tip-outs to club staff, regardless of how much we make.

If we call in sick, miss a shift, or can’t pay our house fees, we can rack up “backrent” — money that we owe to the club. If we rack up too much “backrent,” we have to pay it off with the money we earn on future shifts and can even be blacklisted from working.

We face serious health & safety risks in our workplaces. We’ve had to deal with lack of access to the basics, like running water and working bathrooms. And for many of us, sexual harassment and assault are treated like they’re just part of our jobs.

Our profession is stigmatized, making it harder for us to fight for our rights in the workplace. Much of the focus on regulating our workplaces has been dedicated to anti-trafficking efforts, which often misguidedly treat us as victims rather than workers.

Dancers are workers, and we deserve the same rights all workers do. We shouldn’t be paying more money to work than what we can make. Our work shouldn’t be controlled and scheduled, especially given that we’re independent contractors. And we should know our rights and have a way to enforce them when they’re violated.

Dancers safety & security bill

Since July 2018, a group of dancers across WA have been coming together to talk about how we fight for change in our industry.

We met with legislators and told them what we wanted — and we won HB 1756, a safety & security bill for dancers, which has passed the WA House floor.

This is huge because it’s a first in WA: a bill affecting dancers that was actually initiated by dancers.

Learn more about the stripper safety & security bill

House fees & Backrent

Dancers are required to pay house fees of up to $200 a night to the clubs just to work. Regardless of how much money we make, we owe the clubs these fees every night we come in to work — which means we could work an entire shift and go home with less than what we came in with.

Learn more about house fees

Sex work stigma

The stigma around sex work means our industry has often been overlooked when it comes to workers’ rights. But however you look at it, sex work is work, and we deserve the same protections all workers need. We need healthy, safe working environments. We need financial stability. And we need to know our rights & how to exercise them.

Learn more about the stigma against stripping & other sex work

Are you a dancer who wants to learn more or get involved, or do you have a question for us? Fill out the form below to connect.

Working Washington

building a workers’ movement that has the power to raise wages, improve labor standards, and change the conversation about work and wealth

Working Washington unites working people to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy.

Working Washington | 719 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104, United States

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