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Strippers say they are owed money

Posted: January 2, 2012 - 1:10am

ANCHORAGE — After more than five years of legal wrangling, three women who worked as strippers are going to court over a pay dispute.

The women are alleging that the strip clubs in Anchorage where they danced owe them more than $324,000 in back pay and other compensation, the Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday.

The case is scheduled to open in federal court in Anchorage on Tuesday.

Shanna “Brooke” Thornton, Jennifer Prater and Heather “Kelly” Kidd say the clubs failed to pay minimum wages and forced them to pool their tips to give to other employees.

Owners of the clubs — Jeanette Johnson at Crazy Horse and Kathleen and Carol Hartman at Fantasies — have denied any wrongdoing.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Burgess denied a motion by the strippers to designate the case as a class-action lawsuit, which would’ve likely included many other Fantasies or Crazy Horse dancers in the suit. But the judge also recently denied a motion by the clubs to dismiss the case.

Burgess will attempt to determine how much money, if any, the women are owed.

According to court documents, Thornton worked at both clubs between 2003 and 2006, and Prater and Kidd worked at the Crazy Horse in 2005 and 2006.

While making $7.15 an hour, the state minimum wage at the time, the Crazy Horse dancers were required to pay a $10 “house fee” for every hour that they worked, the court papers say. At Fantasies, the house fee was $15 per hour.

Both clubs also required the dancers to tip their “house moms,” or floor supervisors, along with doormen and DJs. There were also requirements to sell souvenirs or drinks to customers and were subject to “fines” if they failed, according to the court documents.

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Jo MacNamara
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Jo MacNamara 01/02/12 - 08:35 am
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I side with the strippers

I bet there are about a dozen labor laws being violated here. Can a company charge a "house fee" for working there?

Workers should never be forced to tip other employees simply because they work there. It sounds like the owners were trying to extort them by paying them $7.15/hour, but then charging them $10/hour just to work there.

I'm glad it's going to federal court. I hope the strippers get the money apparently due to them.

Milspec.
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Milspec. 01/02/12 - 11:05 am
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Finders fee:

One dollar at a time, now that was funny. However maybe they could find a new job here. A finders fee would be appreciated .

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/01/01/rodman-to-coach-topless-womens-ba...

Spoorprint
228
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Spoorprint 01/02/12 - 12:18 pm
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Oh Jeremiah, you are so MEAN!

Geez, what a cold shot. Do you take pride in that? Manipulate someone and then act condescending to boot. You are a marked man, Jeremiah. A certifiable creep.

JNUKara
8598
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JNUKara 01/02/12 - 12:32 pm
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NewLife

I don't always agree with Jo - but what you called her was seriously offensive!

Jo MacNamara
697
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Jo MacNamara 01/02/12 - 02:25 pm
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Jo is not offended

No one can offend me.

As for the unions I pay, I pay them for the right to collectively bargain for my working conditions. If they get a contract I like, I vote in favor. If they don't, I vote against it.

Nothing could be more democratic than unions! They are the backbone of America protecting the middle class workers from the 1% who charge "house fees" to work in their establishment.

I hope the Alaska Department of Labor goes after these strip clubs to ensure the strippers are being treated fairly.

onder
413
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onder 01/02/12 - 03:33 pm
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Unions?

The more the United States is struggling the more I'm thankful I have been union sense I turned 18. My pension has taken a little financial hit but nothing like the typical 401 plan, a lot of people have lost everything. I hope the strippers get what is fair and the creepy owners spend time in jail if they are guilty.

J. E. Fume
4988
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J. E. Fume 01/02/12 - 05:41 pm
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Why would a strip joint treat

Why would a strip joint treat its employees like that? Those girls are the ones who bring the customers in. Without the girls up there taking their clothes off, those places just become regular sleazy, greasy bars. I would think the the owners would have to common sense to treat their bread and butter employees a little bit better.
I know the girls that worked at Silvio Dante's club in New Jersey made good salaries and they were also allowed the opportunities to make more off the books.

Latitude58
14397
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Latitude58 01/02/12 - 09:56 pm
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Kind of like a beauty parlor

Typically the hair stylists 'rent' their chair and pay a fee to the owner. The owner provides the facility and supplies and support with bookings and payments, etc.

Seems like the strippers should rent their pole from the owners.

I think they all make good money...

skirkz
6681
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skirkz 01/02/12 - 10:03 pm
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All that cash...

And a paycheck, too! Life is good!

onder
413
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onder 01/05/12 - 07:31 pm
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Take your mommy to work day.....Everyday.

Sounds like another loud mouth that doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. Or just plain jealous.

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