In the heart of Nevada, where legal brothels dot the rural landscape, a quiet revolution is brewing. Workers at Sheri’s Ranch, one of the state’s oldest establishments, are taking a bold step towards a fundamental right: a safe and respectful workplace.
Driven by concerns over their rights and future, these sex workers are striving to achieve a historic first – becoming the first unionized brothel in the United States. They’ve filed a petition with the National Labour Relations Board, operating under the banner of United Brothel Workers, and are backed by the Communications Workers of America.
“We want the same things that any other worker wants,” explains Jupiter Jetson, a performer at Sheri’s Ranch. “We deserve a safe environment and to be treated with dignity.” The fight isn’t about the work itself, but about the basic protections afforded to all other laborers.
The catalyst for this movement was a new independent contractor agreement issued in December. This agreement granted the brothel sweeping rights to use the workers’ likenesses – even after they’ve left – potentially without compensation. Jetson fears this could lead to exploitation, like having her image used for AI-generated content without her consent.
Molly Wylder, another worker, sees the contract as a barrier to leaving the industry. For her, sex work is a temporary means to an end – a way to pay off student loans. The restrictive terms, she believes, would make it harder to transition to a different career path.
When workers voiced their concerns to management, they were reportedly met with an ultimatum: sign the contract or leave. Some signed under pressure, while others, including Jetson and two colleagues, were allegedly fired after management discovered their unionization efforts. The Communications Workers of America is now fighting for their reinstatement.
At the core of this struggle lies a complex legal question: are these workers independent contractors, or employees? Sheri’s Ranch argues the independent contractor status protects the workers’ autonomy. However, the union points to the realities of the job – set schedules, a required minimum hourly rate ($1,000, with the brothel taking 50%), and the inability to work remotely – as evidence of an employer-employee relationship.
The workers aren’t just seeking basic protections; they want control over their intellectual property, a say in their dress code, and a fairer wage structure. Wylder also hopes to negotiate for health insurance, a benefit currently unavailable to them.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Elsewhere in the sex industry, workers are beginning to organize. Dancers at Star Garden in Los Angeles are currently the only unionized strippers in America, and San Francisco’s The Lusty Lady pioneered strip club unionization in 1997, though it has since closed.
Despite these small victories, sex work remains a taboo subject globally. While legal in a handful of countries like Germany, organizing efforts often face significant hurdles. In Spain, a union for sex workers was briefly approved by the government in 2018, only to be swiftly outlawed by a court, which argued it legitimized exploitation.
The fight at Sheri’s Ranch is more than just a labor dispute; it’s a challenge to societal norms and a demand for basic human dignity. It’s a story of workers taking control of their lives and fighting for a future where their rights are respected, regardless of their profession.
