The Raiderettes and other pro cheerleaders now will make minimum wage in California. Imago/ZUMA
Here’s a reason to cheer: Today, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that guarantees better pay and working conditions for professional cheerleaders. Introduced by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, the new law was inspired by a series of recent lawsuits in which NFL cheerleaders, including the Oakland Raiderettes, alleged that they received less than minimum wage, had to make unpaid appearances, and were fined for things like bringing the wrong pom-poms to practice. (For more on these degrading working conditions, check out our coverage of NFL cheerleaders and NHL ice girls—which Gonzalez says was “essential” for gaining support for her bill.)
Under the new law, professional sports teams will be required to pay cheerleaders minimum wage as well as provide paid overtime and workers’ comp. It protects professional mascots as well, though most mascots, most of whom are male, are already granted basic employee rights. (According to Gonzalez, the average mascot makes about $30,000 per year.)
A former college cheerleader, Gonzalez describes the law as a “no-brainer” that addresses basic gaps in equality and pay. “We would never tolerate shortchanging of women workers at any other workplace,” she said in a statement. “An NFL game should be no different?.” Gonzalez hopes the law will inspire national change; earlier this year, New York lawmakers introduced a similar bill.
