Dancers at Star Garden Topless Bar in North Hollywood have become the only unionized strippers in the country after 15 months of organizing that began after performers such as one who identified herself as Reagan raised concerns about client interactions getting physical and a rule they say forbade dancers from seeking help from security.
“I was fired for bringing up safety concerns,” Reagan said. “The dancers came together, and they decided to write a safety petition. The petition was not considered. The dancers were locked out the following day and the lockout became a picket line.”
Dancers went on strike for eight months until voting to unionize with Actors Equity Association, but Star Garden owners delayed the tally from being completed by challenging the ballots and filing for bankruptcy. Star Garden owners and dancers eventually reached a settlement and met on May 18 at the National Labor Relations Board offices to complete the process.
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