In October, when the iconic Chippendales Dancers announced they were unionizing with Actors’ Equity Association, the union and workers alike were optimistic that their employer would voluntarily recognize the workers’ union and begin collaborating on improving their workplace. Instead, the employer has engaged in an extended campaign of illegal union-busting to retaliate against the dancers and deny them their legal right to organize. Equity has filed Unfair Labor Practices charges with the National Labor Relations Board, and we are asking the public to sign on to this public statement of support for these brave workers as they continue to fight for the union to which they are entitled.

Union-busting tactics have included a series of captive audience meetings to intimidate the workers away from supporting the union. The employer has also removed known union supporters from the work schedule and is now going as far as forcing all dancers to reaudition and reapply for their jobs, therefore effectively discharging all union supporters. The union is seeking an injunction calling for the reinstatement of all of these workers, among other remediations.