When the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar reopens on August 24th in North Hollywood, it will make history as the only strip club in the nation with unionized strippers. The club, located on Lankershim Boulevard, closed earlier this year, but it’s set to make a comeback and bring positive change for the approximately 30 dancers associated with the club. Many of these dancers are now proud members of the Actors’ Equity Association, a prominent labor union for actors.
The journey to unionization was not an easy one for these dancers. They waged a year-long campaign to join Actors’ Equity, and it wasn’t until May that management finally recognized their union status. However, negotiations are still ongoing to finalize a union contract.
The primary goals of the dancers are to have increased protection from unruly customers and ensure fair compensation for their performances. These dedicated performers want to receive an adequate share of the revenue generated by their work. Unfortunately, representatives from Star Garden were unavailable for comment regarding these developments.
One of the club’s strippers, who goes by the stage name Lilith, expressed her excitement about returning to the stage. She shared how she has been eagerly waiting for this moment ever since the start of the picket line. For her, the grand reopening of the club will be a cause for celebration.
The decision to unionize came out of necessity. The dancers had experienced numerous instances of management and security guards failing to protect them from threatening and abusive behavior from patrons. Unsafe working conditions, including a stage with holes and protruding nails, added to their concerns. In March 2022, 15 of the club’s employees delivered a petition to the owners, demanding change. However, they were met with a lockout when they sought a meeting to discuss their grievances.
For eight months, these dedicated dancers picketed the club, confronting management and advocating for their rights. The situation escalated in August 2022 when the majority of the strippers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a union-recognition election. Although the initial election was favorable (17-0 in favor of unionization), election challenges filed by the club’s owners delayed the official release of the results. These challenges claimed that some of the strippers were not directly employed by Star Garden.
During this time, the club’s business suffered, leading to a reduced lineup of dancers. Star Garden eventually closed its doors in early 2023, with management attempting to file for bankruptcy and rebrand the club as a pool hall, but those plans fell through.
The tides began to turn during a settlement hearing in May 2023 when Star Garden’s owners withdrew all of their election challenges. Management agreed to recognize the union and engage in negotiations at the bargaining table. Throughout the summer, ongoing negotiations for a labor agreement have been taking place, with union officials working tirelessly to secure favorable terms for the dancers.
Kate Shindle, president of the Actors’ Equity Association, expressed her hopes for a contract that will protect the dancers and contribute to the club’s success. She emphasized the importance of patrons feeling confident that the dancers are well-treated when they visit a strip club.
Lilith revealed that labor negotiations have been taking place every other week. Initially, around 10 dancers will take the stage, but this number is expected to increase as business picks up and more dancers are called back to work.
Velveeta, another dancer from the Star Garden, stressed the necessity of collective bargaining for the betterment of their workplace. She emphasized that the union provides hope for improvements and a voice for the dancers. They no longer have to choose between enduring abuse or leaving their jobs.
The North Hollywood strippers are not the first to unionize in the industry. Dancers at San Francisco’s Lusty Lady organized the Exotic Dancers Union in 1996 and later became affiliated with the Service Employees International Union before the club closed in 2013. This new development at Star Garden only serves to further advance the rights and well-being of strippers in the United States.
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