Cheerleader sues (Oakland) Raiders for withholding pay, not paying minimum wage

[Redfairen]

Source: Periscope Post

The Oakland Raiders were hit with a lawsuit on Wednesday in California court. One of the team’s cheerleaders, Lacy T., claims that the team withheld pay for the cheerleaders until the end of the season and that the women were not receiving the California minimum wage, which is $8 per hour.

The lawsuit states that “cheerleaders are to be paid only $1250 for working an entire season, which amounts to less than $5.00 per hour for the time that they spend rehearsing, performing and appearing at events where they are not paid.”


Read more: http://periscopepost.com/sports-24/cheerleader-sues-raiders-for-withholding-pay-not-paying-minimum-wage-2734.html

[itsrobert]

1. Sound like a contract

This is how companies get out of labor laws. They make everyone their own employer. FedEx Home Delivery works the same way, under a contract.

[Kelvin Mace]

2. $1250 is what the Raiders

spend on jock itch per player.

[okaawhatever]

3. lolz. True. nt

[GP6971]

4. I wonder how that

Compares to the rest of the NFL cheerleaders? Naturally the Raiders will counter with the benefits and value of the cheerleaders performing on a national stage........much like the team has put a value on their "goodwill".

[olddad56]

5. at 4 and 12, the Raiders don't have much goodwill. Their players should get paid the minimum wage.

[GP6971]

6. Very true! n/t

[Blue_Tires]

10. There are some variations, but for the most part

cheerleaders make next to nothing...

Back in the late 90s I knew a college student cheerleading for the Atlanta Falcons...I don't remember the actual amount she made, but I remember being absolutely shocked at how little it was (it was definitely way less than $1200 per season)...

But most of them don't do it for the money anyways...For many it's about the exposure, being a small part of "the life" surrounding professional football, being able to watch games from a spot any fan would kill for, and yes, admittedly some do get into it for the sole purpose of bedding a professional athlete or two (or more)....

[AngryAmish]

13. Just because a job is glamorous that does not mean you should not get paid for it.

Raiders lose this one.

[LanternWaste]

14. I would imagine they there may be some additional business savvy not being perceived

"But most of them don't do it for the money anyways.."

I would imagine they there may be some additional business savvy not being perceived-- as that very same exposure and "the life" can also be perceived as very effective networking for future business ventures (though admittedly, doesn't fall into the comfortable stereotypes we often rationalize as a norm) such as insurance companies and PR firms.

I can't speak to how many, or whether this demographic is "most" or not-- as I'd only be guessing.

[Blue_Tires]

15. Good points

I'm only speaking about what I've learned from cheerleaders I've actually known over the years (which is a grand total of 3)...

Granted, they were all college students at the time, and they all needed to work a second job for 'real' money...And for them at least it really was all about the fun and seeing the games up close....

I realize there are women a few years past college age who are cheerleading, so for them business networking or eventually finding a full-time office job with the team could definitely be motivations....

[alp227]

7. I'd sue the team for being incompetent since 2003.

Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2014, 01:29 PM - Edit history (1)

(Comment deleted)

Anyway the team records since 2003:
2-14 in 2006
4-12 in 2003, 05, 07, 12, and 13
5-11 in 04, 08, 09
8-8 in 2010 & 2011
2002: 11-5 and Super Bowl loss 48-21 to Tampa, padded by two pick six scores by Tampa late

[Cal Carpenter]

8. Doesn't matter if it is a full time job.

They are workers, they are working, they are not being compensated at even the bare minimum legal amount. Can't even seem to get nominal support here for their efforts at exposing the shitty pay? Well, that doesn't surprise me anymore.

But thanks for sharing the team record. It really adds a lot to the topic at hand.

[alp227]

11. According to the SF Chronicle, the woman got the real min wage with a previous cheer job

with the local basketball team:

The 27-year-old Alameda resident, hired by the Raiders before the 2013 season, said she was treated much better in the previous two years as a member of the Golden State Warriors' dance team, the Warrior Girls. They were paid $10 to $14 an hour, depending on experience, with no unpaid work or expenses, she said.

If that's true and California is a state run by the rule of law, then the Raiders should get the book thrown at 'em. The law is the law, I don't care if the woman signed a "contract". Assuming Lacy danced with the Warriors from 2011 to 2013 that would include the strike-shortened, 23-43 season where the team would have lost a lot of profit. If the Warriors (who have had plenty of poor seasons in recent years til 2012-13) can afford to pay their cheerleaders the legal wage, why can't the Raiders?

[aggiesal]

16. As I understand it . . .

each NFL team receives enough money from their TV & Radio contracts
to pay everyone in their teams organization without selling 1 ticket.

So they are profitable without having to play 1 game. All those tickets
sales only pad to their profits, so they should be able to pay at least a minimum wage.

Back in the 80's I heard they got paid $50 per game plus 2 tickets to each
home game (And they were not the best seats).

[Orsino]

9. An NFL that treats its male stars like disposable commodities...

...easily gets away with cheaping out on some less-visible women.

[Ash_F]

12. This is more common than you think.

Many industries abuse their workers and violate FLSA requirements. I wish her well.