The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders have unionized after years of advocating for fair pay and better wages.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association (DCCA) was voluntarily recognized by the Cowboys as the collective bargaining representative for the cheerleading squad, according to a Friday news release. The recognition came after “meaningful discussion” between the Cowboys organization and the DCCA, and the parties are set to begin collective bargaining.
“The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are an esteemed part of the Cowboys organization, deeply respected for the talent and dedication they exhibit,” the DCCA said in a statement. “They remain one of the most sought-after opportunities for talented dancers worldwide.”
Established in 1961, one year after the football team played its inaugural season in the NFL, the Cowboys cheerleaders are among the most recognizable dance groups in the world. They are showcased in a Netflix series, America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which released its third season in June. The show has offered a glimpse into the lives of the squad members, many of whom hold full-time jobs in addition to being cheerleaders, and shed light on their years of fighting for fair pay.
In 2018, cheerleader Erica Wilkins filed a federal fair wage lawsuit against the Cowboys, who are the NFL’s most valuable franchise at $17bn, per Forbes. Wilkins claimed she averaged $15,000 during her seasons with Dallas and said she made less money than the team’s male mascot.
The Netflix series’ second season followed contract negotiations for the 36-member team – including threats of a walkout – and ended with the squad receiving a 400% pay raise, increasing the hourly rate for some members from $15 per hour for the 2024 season to $75 per hour. One squad member told the New York Times that while the new contract increased wages for game day appearances, it did not provide health insurance.
The Cowboys cheerleaders are not the first in the NFL to form a union. In 1995, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that the Buffalo Bills cheerleaders could unionize. The Buffalo Jills, as they were known, joined the National Football League Cheerleaders Association. The union was short-lived and the Jills squad disbanded in 2014.
Leave a Reply