The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders have unionized, in a watershed labor victory that comes after years of fighting for fair pay.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association (DCCA) was voluntarily recognized by the Cowboys as the collective bargaining representative for the cheerleading squad, according to a Friday news release. The recognition came after “meaningful discussion” between the Cowboys organization and the DCCA, and the parties are set to begin collective bargaining.
“The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are an esteemed part of the Cowboys organization, deeply respected for the talent and dedication they exhibit,” the DCCA said in a statement. “They remain one of the most sought-after opportunities for talented dancers worldwide.”
Established in 1961, one year after the football team played its inaugural season in the NFL, the Cowboys cheerleaders are among the most recognizable dance groups in the world. The squad’s national profile rose as they were chronicled in a Netflix series, America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which released its third season in June.
For decades, the franchise has faced scrutiny over the cheerleaders’ low salaries, despite their enduring pop culture relevance.
The squad’s compensation was largely shrouded in mystery until details spilled into the public view in 2018, when cheerleader Erica Wilkins filed a federal fair wage lawsuit against the Cowboys. Wilkins claimed she averaged $15,000 during her seasons with Dallas and said she made less money than the team’s male mascot. The Cowboys are the NFL’s most valuable franchise at $17bn, per Forbes.
The second season of America’s Sweethearts followed oft-tense contract negotiations – including threats of a walkout – involving the 36-member team. Several squad members spoke of holding full-time jobs in addition to their demanding DCC schedule so they could pay their bills.
By the end of the season, the dancers received a 400% pay raise, increasing the hourly rate for some members from $15 per hour for the 2024 season to $75 per hour. One squad member told the New York Times that while the new contract increased wages for game day appearances, it did not provide health insurance.
The Cowboys cheerleaders are not the first in the NFL to form a union. In 1995, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that the Buffalo Bills cheerleaders could unionize. The Buffalo Jills, as they were known, joined the National Football League Cheerleaders Association. The union was short-lived and the Jills squad disbanded in 2014.
