Something to cheer about?
Bill would increase pay, require overtime, sick leave for sideline entertainers
Raiders cheerleaders are paid $125 per home game, or $1,250 per season, according to attorney Sharon Vinick.
“Everyone who works hard to provide a great game-day experience deserves the same basic level of dignity and respect on the job, starting with simply being paid for their work.” — AssemblywomanLorena
Gonzalez, D- Chula Vista
SAN FRANCISCO — They boost their teams from the sidelines and promote them by appearing in calendars and at fan events, but some sports cheerleaders say they are still not considered team employees and are paid what amounts to less than minimum wage.
California legislation believed to be the first of its kind in the nation is set to change that. The bill sent to the governor this week would require cheerleaders to be paid at least minimum wage and overtime and sick leave if they work for professional sports teams based in California.
“Everyone who works hard to provide a great game-day experience deserves the same basic level of dignity and respect on the job, starting with simply being paid for their work,” said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-Chula Vista, who authored the legislation.
A similar bill was introduced in New York state this year.
The focus on cheerleader pay comes after a spate of recent lawsuits against NFL teams alleging they did not pay cheerleaders for hours they spent practicing and making public appearances. Attorneys for some of the cheerleaders say the California legislation is good, but existing law already says cheerleaders are employees entitled to minimum wage.
“It’s nice to have clarifying legislation, but I don’t think it changes the state of the law at all,” said attorney Sharon Vinick, who represented former Oakland Raiders cheerleaders in a lawsuit against the team.
Raiders cheerleaders were paid $125