June 30, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Dancers at the country's first unionized strip club are now stripping for themselves.
The Lusty Lady Theater, the nation's only peep show with an organized work force, is now owned by its employees, who held a ribbon-cutting last week.
Located near downtown San Francisco, the Lusty Lady made history in 1995 when it became the nation's first strip club to unionize, joining the Service Employees International Union.
Earlier this year, the union and the owners reached agreement on a new two-year contract that boosted hourly wages, increased sick pay and lowered the number of dancers hired.
A month later, the owners told the dancers they were closing the club, saying the business had become too expensive.
In danger of losing their livelihoods, the San Francisco dancers pooled their experience and solicited help from a local grocery cooperative to form their own co-op and buy the club. Terms were not disclosed.
