Labor News & Commentary October 9, 2024 Chippendales Dancers seek to unionize under the Actors' Equity Association & mor

https://onlabor.org/october-9-2024/

By Jacqueline Rayfield

Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.

In today’s News and Commentary, a 5th Circuit Appeals court panel suggested that companies lack standing to sue over a 2022 memo from National Labor Relations Board General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, Chippendales Dancers seek to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Association, and the AFL-CIO urges members to vote for Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Five companies appealed a Texas judge’s opinion stating that they did not have standing to review prosecutorial discretion by the NLRB general counsel. A 5th Circuit appeals court heard oral arguments on this appeal yesterday. Comments from the three-judge panel suggest that they will rule with the lower court. These companies specifically challenged Abruzzo’s statements targeting captive audience meetings.

Chippendales Dancers, members of an all-male show based out of the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, have asked their employer for voluntary recognition of their union and have filed with the NLRB for an election. Dancers leading the effort explain that this is a step towards fair pay, benefits, and safety on the job. Chippendales would be the third venue of adult performers to unionize under Actors’ Equity, following Magic Tavern dancers in Portland and Star Garden dancers in Los Angeles.

The AFL-CIO is urging the U.S.’s 14.4 million union members to vote for Harris in the upcoming presidential election. The union’s website explains that former president Donald Trump has crossed picket lines and bragged about firing workers. Meanwhile, Harris has shown solidarity by joining a United Auto Workers picket line and supporting the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.