California law recognizes cheerleaders as employees

California Gov. Jerry Brown has approved legislation recognizing the state’s professional cheerleaders as employees who are entitled to minimum wage and overtime, following high-profile lawsuits alleging labor violations in California and elsewhere around the country.

Brown's office announced Wednesday that he signed the bill, requiring sports teams to employ cheerleaders as workers instead of contractors. That provides them with sick leave and other labor protections available to other staff. It's believed to be the first law of its kind in the nation.

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

Some NFL cheerleaders say they have been paid sub-minimum or no wages and were forced to pay thousands of dollars to travel.

"Everyone who works hard to provide a great game day experience deserves the same basic level of dignity and respect on the job, starting with simply being paid for their work," Gonzalez said in a statement after the bill had passed through the state’s legislature.

The bill was introduced in January, just months after the NFL's Oakland Raiders agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle a lawsuit brought by 90 members of the team's cheerleading squad. The performers alleged they were underpaid or faced lengthy delays in receiving their wages, in violation of state labor law.

A wave of similar suits over unfair pay followed against other NFL franchises last year, including the Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Jets.

A similar bill was proposed in New York state last month after five former Buffalo Bills cheerleaders sued the franchise for wage theft, according to the local Journal News.

The so-called Buffalo Jills have been on hiatus since the filing last April and did not perform at any of their team's games last year, the Journal News said.

Al Jazeera and wire services