Nothing except their lobbying pitch: They wanted to protect the livelihoods of hundreds of exotic dancers like themselves who perform throughout the state. The women walked the halls of the Capitol to oppose legislation that they say would strip exotic dancers of their rights as employees under state law.
The target of their scorn is a measure, AB , by Assemblyman Brett Granlund R-Yucaipa that would reclassify adult entertainers as independent businesswomen. It is scheduled to be heard today by the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee. A lobbyist for clubs where the performers work--nude, bikini-clad or in between--said the dancers are independent contractors and state labor codes should treat them that way.
The measure is opposed by the California Labor Federation, the Service Employees International Union and other labor groups that see the legislation as a step in the wrong direction. In fact, critics say, Granlund is trying to turn the law on its head. Locker, chief counsel for the state labor commissioner.
Dancers who are critical of the proposal say that until a decade or so ago, they were paid minimum wage and, like restaurant workers, received tips--but then club owners began charging them stage or license fees to perform. Angered by poor working conditions and a lack of health benefits, peep show dancers at the Lusty Lady in San Francisco--in a widely publicized action--voted to unionize and become members of the Service Employees International Union. A year later, Locker issued an opinion that the working conditions of topless entertainers were controlled by the clubs, creating an employee-employer relationship with the performers.
In an interview, Locker said that featured performers--some of whom star in X-rated films--might be independent contractors. He estimated that in the last year, dancers in San Francisco have filed about 20 claims with the labor commissioner for back wages. The decisions were all in favor of the dancers, including about five that were appealed, he said. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond.
