Strippers’ bill of rights signed into law in Washington state
- Strippers are workers and should be given same rights and protections as any other labour force, said Washington state Senator Rebecca Saldana
- Law mandates provision of panic buttons, requires clubs to have trained security staff and moves to allow alcohol to be served in clubs
Strippers in the US state of Washington have won workplace protections after the governor signed a bill of rights putting them on the same legal footing as people in any other job.
The legislation, signed into law on Monday by Governor Jay Inslee, is some of the most far-reaching in the country, and sets standards for safety and pay.
“Strippers are workers and they should be given the same rights and protections as any other labour force,” said Washington state Senator Rebecca Saldana, who sponsored the bill.
“If they are employed at a legal establishment in Washington, they deserve the safeguards that every worker is entitled to, including protection from exploitation, trafficking and abuse.”
The law mandates the provision of panic buttons in areas where dancers might be alone with customers, and requires clubs to have specially trained staff on hand to deal with security issues.
It also sets out requirements for clear contracts that would limit the amount a club could charge a stripper – many of whom are independent contractors.