Oakland Raiders cheerleader sues, says she is earning less than minimum wage
An Oakland Raiders cheerleader claims in a lawsuit that the team is violating California labor laws.
The would-be class action claims the team pays its Raiderette cheerleaders $1,250 at the end of the season, which amounts to less than $5 an hour when rehearsals, charity appearances and a swimsuit photo shoot are figured in. The San Francisco Chronicle and Bay City News have stories.
The suit claims the Raiderettes incur several costs. They include: the cost of required items such as tights, false eyelashes, and hair care through a team-approved hairstylist; and fines of $10 or more for infractions such as bringing the wrong pom-poms to practice. A cheerleader who gains 5 pounds from her starting weight is benched for the next home game, and $125 is docked from her pay, the suit also alleges.
The Raiderette plaintiff is identified as Lacy T. in accordance with team policy that prohibits use of last names for security reasons. She says she paid $650 in unreimbursed expenses for the 2013-14 season, the stories say.
