Dancers at the Market St. peepshow -- now averaging a mere $5 to $10 an hour --contacted dancer-organizers fromthe Lusty Lady in North Beach to help them start a union at the Regal. The Lusty Lady is currently the only sex industry venue in the nation whose workers are protected by a union contract. If we had a union contract at the Regal, the company could never impose a pay-cut like that, says one Regal union activist.

Over 80 percent of the Regal's 35 performers signed union authorization cards for representation by the Service Employees Internation Union (SEIU), Local 790 -- the same union that represents dancers, cashiers and janitors at the Lusty Lady. Regal management retaliated by announcing plans to close the peepshow for economic reasons as of November 30.

Dancers call the impending closure a lock-out, suspect its legality is dubious, and are considering filing Unfair Labor Practice charges against the Bijou Corp. with the National Labor Relations Board. They've been saying that place has been losing money ever since they first went to court, says another Regal dancer-organizer, referring to the company's on-going bankruptcy court proceedings. They filed for bankruptcy to get out of paying Century and Cinema dancers who sued for back-wages and stage fee reimbursements, and now they're locking us out to get out of recognizing the union. They probably think the lock-out will discourage future efforts to organize the sex industry, but I think it's going to polarize people. What happened at the Lusty is not an anomaly; they got locked out too, and they have a contract now. Dancers are only going to put up with this shit for so long.

Several Regal dancers have filed Wage and Hour claims with the state Labor Commission for unpaid mandatory meetings, unsatisfied customer refunds deducted from dancers' pay, and lack of an hourly minimum wage.

Several dancers have recently filed with the Labor Commission against both Crazy Horse Theatre and Chez Paree for wage and hour payments and reimbursement of "stage fees" or "commission" fees. The owner of the Chez Paree has forewarned dancers of an increase in "rent" as of 1998. Two dancers have already received settlements from the Crazy Horse for individual wage and hour claims.

Lusty Lady employees are expected to re-enter negotiations with management in January of 1998 regarding 2nd year contract renewal and potential amendments.

The class action lawsuit against Mitchell Brother(s) O'Farrell Theater is still in progress. Additional members of the class have recently been deposed by the theater's defense team, but a trial date has still not been announced.

Strippers are currently unionizing in North Hollywood, Alaska & Philadelphia...

EDA has been contacted by both dancers and supporters across the nation who want to participate in collective organizing efforts to improve their working conditions. Canada, Mass., NJ, NY are some of the areas where organizing activities are beginning.