New California Law Recognizes Cheerleaders as Employees

Gov. Jerry Brown has approved legislation recognizing California's professional cheerleaders as employees who are entitled to minimum wage and overtime.

The Democratic governor announced Wednesday that he signed AB202, requiring that sports teams employ cheerleaders as workers instead of contractors. It provides them with sick leave and overtime pay, as well as other labor protections available to team staff.

The law, which will take effect in 2016, is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation. A similar bill in New York is pending.

Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez introduced the bill after Oakland Raiderette cheerleaders filed a wage-theft lawsuit. Gonzalez, who cheered at Stanford, said many professional cheerleaders are treated like glorified volunteers.

"We would never tolerate shortchanging of women workers at any other workplace. An NFL game should be no different," Gonzalez said in a statement.

Raiders cheerleaders were ultimately paid less than $5 per hour through a contract that did not include pay for hours of rehearsals and public appearances, Raiderettes attorney Sharon Vinick said.

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