The performers who make the Chippendales show world-famous say they’re not being treated like the stars they are by their employer.
The men who have made women scream in excitement for decades recently filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The complaint, filed in October with NLRB’s Region 28 office, contends that Chippendales dancers have been subjected to union-busting tactics and have faced retaliation by Chippendales Entertainment, LLC.
In October, Chippendales dancers joined the Actors’ Equity Association. In the dancers’ and union’s NLRB complaint, they assert that Chippendales Entertainment engaged in an illegal campaign to thwart the performers from organizing. They additionally claim that the dance troupe’s producer forced all dancers to reaudition for their jobs, with employees who were known to be supportive of unionizing let go from the ensemble.
“Retaliating against unionizing workers this way isn’t just shameful, it’s illegal,” said Brooke Shields, president of the Actors’ Equity Association.
The Chippendales dancers are incredibly talented professionals who have built the world-class reputation of the company. It pains me to see these men demoralized, but they are not defeated,” Shields added.
The Actors’ Equity Association is asking the NLRB to issue an injunction ordering Chippendales Entertainment to immediately reinstate dancers who were discharged following a reaudition and recognize the union as the bargaining representative of the men.
New Chippendales Home
For more than two decades, Chippendales has called Rio Hotel & Casino west of the Strip its home in Las Vegas.
Beginning January 14, the iconic show will relocate to the Mat Franco Theater at The Linq. Chippendales performs eight times a week Tuesday through Sunday, with two shows a night on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Actors’ Equity Association represents more than 51K professional actors and stage managers. Based in New York City with offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Orlando, the union is a member of the AFL-CIO.
Equity, as the union is often referred to, says Chippendales Entertainment hasn’t properly recognized its dancers’ decision to unionize.
“In October, when the iconic Chippendales Dancers announced they were unionizing with the Actors’ Equity Association, the union and workers alike were optimistic that their employer would voluntarily recognize the workers’ union and begin collaborating on improving their workplace. Instead, the employer has engaged in an extended campaign of illegal union-busting to retaliate against the dancers and deny them their legal right to organize,” an Equity statement issued on December 20 read.
Lagging Wages
Chippendales performers and their newly joined union claim the “Broadway of burlesque” stars are considerably underpaid compared with other entertainers on the Las Vegas Strip and around town. Shields is calling on Chippendales Entertainment to recognize Equity as Chippendales dancers’ representative and engage in good-faith negotiations to provide “world-class” wages and benefits fit for “world-class” performers.
We ask that everyone remind these performers that they’re not alone. Fans of their show and allies from the labor movement alike have their backs, and we need to let these brave performers know we’re all with them,” Shields added.
Along with the Las Vegas residency, Chippendales tours annually. The 2025 tour begins in March and runs through November.
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