Montreal, Canada. Strippers in Montreal are planning a strike for the weekend of the Canadian Grand Prix, aiming to use one of the busiest periods for the city’s strip clubs to press for full employment rights.
Strike called by SWAC
The Sex Work Autonomous Committee (SWAC) has called the strike for May 23, the eve of the fifth race in the Formula One calendar, as part of a campaign to be recognized as employees with associated rights.
Key demands
SWAC’s principal demand is the abolition of the “bar fee” that strippers must pay to perform in clubs. The group is also calling for safe and sanitary working conditions and an end to discrimination in hiring and scheduling.
Independent contractor status
In a statement, SWAC said strippers are considered independent contractors, which it said treats them on paper the same as other independent workers. The group said that, unlike an independent contractor plumber, an independent contractor stripper is responsible to club management.
Why Grand Prix weekend
SWAC said the Canadian Grand Prix weekend was deliberately selected because clubs are at their busiest, making it the most lucrative period of the year for club owners. The statement added that, despite management making more money during that time, dancers face generally worse working conditions.
How do you think a strike during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend could affect negotiations between dancers and club management?