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Thread: unions in Colorado

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    Default unions in Colorado

    I am wondering if there is anybody in here who works at any of the clubs in Denver, Colorado. I currently work at Shotgun Willie's (I have been dancing for about a year) and just recently heard of this idea of forming a union for workers in this kind of industry. I am not sure if there is a need for soemthing like this in colorado but would like to find out how others feel, and we can maybe form a discussion group if nothing else in order to assess this need. Please email me at [email protected] or post a message on here and let me know what you think. Thank you

    "Morgan"

  2. #2
    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: unions in Colorado

    Hi, Morgan. Hey, I've been to Shotgun Willie's.

    Colorado is not exactly a union-friendly state. Dancers, as independent contractors from diverse backgrounds, are not a real organized group. Anything's possible, but it would be a tough way to go.

    In my observation, there's been all kinds of abuses of the independent contractor status in clubs in Colorado. I think you'd have better leverage with some Department of Labor opinions about how clubs might be liable for back taxes, workers comp, and unemployment insurance for not allowing dancers true IC status. Just a thought. Of course, you want to walk the line of having the clubs treat you right without causing big harm to them or yourself.

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    Default Re: unions in Colorado

    You asked what I think ? I think that unionizing dancers SUCKS! First of all, it will virtually force an official transition from working as private contractors to working as employees, with the rigid schedules, employer rules, tax reporting etc that goes along with it. Second, it will drive out the "cream of the crop" dancers because they will see their earnings potential get averaged down while the earnings potential of dancers who are "7"s gets averaged up. Third, it will drive out the "hustlers" because they will see their above average expenditures of energy not being rewarded, instead encouraging dancers to "sit around" and collect their paycheck. All in all a sure formula for lowering dance club offerings to the lowest common denominator, driving off some customers, and reducing actual take home earnings for everybody except the club owners.

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    God/dess doc-catfish's Avatar
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    Default Re: unions in Colorado

    You asked what I think ? I think that unionizing dancers SUCKS!
    Porn actress Nina Hartley was once asked about this same topic regarding women in her line of work and said that it would be unlikely because there was too much scab labor to be found. The same would clearly apply at strip clubs, particularly in this day and time.

    Outside union friendly bastions like San Francisco Melonie, I can't see it happening. It certainly isn't going to happen where I live. On top of that, a lot of dancers probably have the same reservations that you do.

    I DO wish that communities would pass something like a "Dancer's Bill of Rights" to give them some recourse against some of the nonsense you ladies have described having put up with where you've worked, but that suggestion probably has a snowball's chance in hell too.
    Former SCJ now in rehab.

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    Default Re: unions in Colorado

    Oh I'm sure that many communities would love to take advantage of a request from local dancers for a "Dancer's bill of rights" - those fine upstanding city councils and community members would vote in a New York minute to give every dancer in town the equal right to be UNEMPLOYED. Closing down every club in town would stop all the negative conditions dancers have to put up with, right ? Then without the negative influences of the clubs, these "drug addled whores" would finally have the opportunity to be 'rehabilitated'! Forgive my pessimism where local governments are concerned, but local governments who actually consider dancing to be just one more occupation versus being a corrupt and undesireable business at best and "the devil's work" at worst are few and far between.

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    Default Re: unions in Colorado

    dancers union organizing is definitely NOT a nationwide trend from what I see. If anything, except for occasional pockets of weirdness like the Lucky Lady and MBOT, in most areas of the country dancers are more willing than ever to put up with all sorts of shit on the part of the clubs IF the clubs offer anything even remotely resembling decent earnings potential. Under today's circumstances, when there are probably 10 new dancers auditioning every night and willing to take the next available job opening at every club with earnings potential, and there is probably a local city council that would love to use any dance club publicity such as unionizing as an excuse to crack down on clubs to make political mileage for themselves, a smart girl thinks twice before rocking the boat.

    In my own view, the solution to dancers not wanting to put up with clubowner bullshit is not high profile union organizing, it's "voting with your feet". If all the dancers with "class" do this, their places will soon be taken by other dancers who will do anything for money, which is exactly what the clubowner wants and also exactly what he deserves. Unfortunately, it only hastens the evolution towards a few clean "show" clubs with classy dancers who are treated with respect by customers and clubowners, versus a lot of "sleaze" clubs where dancers who will do anything for money willingly put up with customer and clubowner abuse. I just worry about the dancers like me who are '8's with "class" who really won't have any place to go in the future.

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