NFL cheerleaders get minimum wage in California
Cheerleader advocate: 'It's absolutely a gender issue'
California-based professional cheerleaders have something to cheer for: a new bill giving them full employment rights like minimum wage, sick days and other employment protections.
The bill was signed on Wednesday by Governor Jerry Brown, coming on the heels of a lawsuit against the Oakland Raiders that resulted in the team awarding 90 cheerleader complainants $1.25 million in back pay.
The Raiderettes alleged that they were being treated as independent contractors and not given any basic employment rights i.e. sick days, benefits, or a sufficient wage for their work.
San Diego assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a former cheerleader, issued a press release saying the bill made sure“multi-billion dollar sports teams treat cheerleaders with the same dignity and respect as every other employee.”
The law goes into effect on January 1, 2016.
The NFL told FOX411 the ruling doesn't affect them much.
"Teams are advised to follow state and federal employment laws," a league rep said in a statement. "Under those laws, team cheerleaders are not employed by the league."
FOX411 also reached out to the Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers -- and a few cheerleaders -- for comment, so stay tuned...
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