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posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 9:44 AM on June 19 [11 favorites]

Are you ready for a PAY RAIIISE!
posted by Lemkin at 9:55 AM on June 19 [2 favorites]

My best friend’s sister was a BenGal cheerleader in the late 70s when they got paid nothing and were told it was a privilege to represent the team. She worked full time as a primary school teacher and then gave all her spare hours to this “ambassadorship”
posted by toodleydoodley at 10:16 AM on June 19 [1 favorite]

I mean, management will never pay if there is any other option. You don’t “earn” millions a year by paying people, after all. “They live there jobs; that’s pay enough” is something that has never been said about an upper manager, ever.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:32 AM on June 19 [8 favorites]

Spoiler: it's actually a 300% raise.
posted by biffa at 10:34 AM on June 19 [1 favorite]

Debs Does Dallas
posted by chavenet at 10:41 AM on June 19 [9 favorites]

Good for them. They do a ridiculous amount of work for diddly-shit pay.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:41 AM on June 19 [3 favorites]

Dallas at one time had a strict ‘no dating players’ rule for their cheerleaders which they ignored for Danny White and his cheerleader girlfriend, but I have no idea where that stands these days.
posted by jamjam at 11:46 AM on June 19

Labor wins are always a cause for celebration, but I'm sorta afraid to click on the link and find out their salary went from, like, $100 a game to $400.

I think it's interesting that one typical argument made is that jobs like this are incredibly competitive, with many more applicants than they could ever need, which also perfectly describes the role of starting QB for an NFL team. Given than the Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl since [checks notes: really?], the stability and appeal of the cheer squad has likely done as much, if not more, to sustain the enterprise value over the past [checks notes again: are you sure?] than any of the last whatever starting QBs.
posted by 99_ at 12:03 PM on June 19 [8 favorites]

While Armani and Jada decided to retire and won’t directly enjoy the fruits of their labor, they were content with the raise being part of their legacy. “I love the fact that I made change for the girls coming up behind me,” Armani said in the season 2 finale.

I love the attitude of lowering ladders rather than raising them up!
posted by lock robster at 12:14 PM on June 19 [7 favorites]

Thanks for this, Lemkin. I'm really glad they got a significant raise (although it still sounds like way too little, to me, and the lack of actual clear dollar amounts and transparency makes me mad). And thanks for the related links - it's distressing to be reminded how long we've known about this and how long cheerleaders have been fighting for better pay and working conditions.
posted by kristi at 12:30 PM on June 19 [3 favorites]

I’ve read that the full uniform, including custom fitted dancin’ boots, costs about $2,000.

The women are required to turn theirs in at the end of the season.
posted by Lemkin at 2:21 PM on June 19 [1 favorite]

"In one of North Dallas Forty’s many climactic speeches, a Bulls lineman berates his coaches, shouting, “Every time I call it a game, you call it a business. And every time I call it a business, you call it a game!”

The Movie That Shattered the Dallas Cowboys Myth.
posted by clavdivs at 3:18 PM on June 19 [1 favorite]

I'm sorta afraid to click on the link and find out their salary went from, like, $100 a game to $400.

The details haven't been released but the article puts together some statements made recently and projects that they went from $500 to $2000 per game. Probably with a boost for veterans and probably additional compensation for non game events. That's only 34K a year. Not exactly great for such a high profile job in entertainment but a good start. I wonder if they have any health benefits.

I'm trying to celebrate this win and not get angry how obviously unethically and immorally underpaid not just the cheer leaders with the Dallas organization but probably every cheer squad in the NFL has been.
posted by Mitheral at 3:50 PM on June 19 [3 favorites]

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