Strip club dancers not paid lawfully, lawsuit claims
Downtown Milwaukee’s oldest strip club may have a new name and owners, but a lawsuit says it’s using the same old pay scheme for its dancers.
Two women say the former Art’s Performing Center, now known as Silk Exotic on Water, and Silk Exotic Downtown, a few blocks away on Old World Third Street, refuse to pay dancers minimum wage and overtime. They also allege the clubs withheld part of the only pay they do get — tips — in violation of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act and Wisconsin wages and hours laws.
It’s just the latest in a continuing series of such lawsuits in Wisconsin and nationwide over how clubs pay dancers. The clubs say the women are independent contractors, and most dancers embrace and prefer that status.
Several courts have ruled that in practice, given the control club owners exert over dancers’ hours, dress, behaviors and pricing, the women are, in fact, employees. But the general practice in the industry remains the independent contractor model.
Plaintiffs Vangie Thomas and Myanauh Lowe are represented by Milwaukee labor law firm Hawks Quindell.
“The issue is not particularly complicated,” said attorney Summer Murshid. “If you’re an employee, you have to pay them.”
Murshid said she doesn’t know why the clubs won’t change their ways. “Until they do, they’ll continue to expose themselves to liability. Hopefully, litigation effects change for all the dancers.“
Madison attorney Jeff Scott Olson represents the clubs and various owners named as defendants. He told WISN-TV that dancers prefer the independent contractor arrangement because no taxes are withheld from their pay. Strip clubs typically charge dancers a fee to perform, and require that some portion of the tips they get from patrons be shared with DJs, bouncers and other club staff.