Black and Latina exotic dancers going on strike in NYC and it won't be just over money

Alex Eriksen
Exotic dancer Gizelle Marie has been serving as de facto spokesperson for an ongoing strike and dispute between black and Latina dancers, bartenders, and club management in NYC, claiming unfair treatment. (Photo: Instagram)
Exotic dancer Gizelle Marie has been serving as de facto spokesperson for an ongoing strike and dispute between black and Latina dancers, bartenders, and club management in NYC, claiming unfair treatment. (Photo: Instagram)

Dancers in strip clubs across New York City are planning to go on strike after alleged widespread abuse of their tips and, in some cases, even racism against black and Latina dancers.

The feud seems to cut three ways between dancers, bartenders, and management. The dancers allege that the bartenders, who are not strippers but may wear revealing outfits, will steal money from the dancers on stage.

The world see it! #nycstripperstrike

A post shared by NYCstripperstrike (@nycstripperstrike) on Oct 28, 2017 at 3:34pm PDT

In this video clip we can clearly see a bartender sweeping bills meant for the dancer onto the floor of the bar.

Oh no…. I would end you. Heel to the face, flying on you like a spider monkey, your pigtailed self would get dragged on stage since you want to be on it so bad. Don't ever touch the money on stage, you're a bartender, so quit shaking your ass and sell drinks. Video from @teatenders_liv #nycstripperstrike #stripperstrike solidarity with NYC strippers.

A post shared by Indie (@indieb6by) on Oct 26, 2017 at 6:03am PDT

What’s more is that apparently bartenders don’t have to pay a portion of their take to management, a practice called “tipping the house,” the way dancers and DJs are expected to.

The strike’s de facto leader, Gizelle Marie, is a local dancer organizing her erotic colleagues in an effort to air grievances with management at strip clubs across the five boroughs of New York City. And it’s not just about the stolen tips.

Allegations of racism against black and Latina dancers have been rumbling on social media. “There are barely any dark skin bartenders or waitresses who get work or is promoted,” writes Nikita Maxx, another dancer.

This was not only about my issues this was about all the issues that my fellow coworkers are experiencing…. and for the women who never got a chance and im just glad they reached out… we gotta stick together and uplift each other and boss up #nycstripperstrike

A post shared by Gizelle Marie (@thegizellemarie) on Oct 27, 2017 at 8:20am PDT

Marie organized a meeting earlier this week at the Poletic Justice pole-dancing and fitness studio in the Bronx.

“The codes of conduct in the New York City [clubs] has been breached,” she posted. “What the dancers are fighting for [is] their respect and the strip club culture in NYC.”

Rapper Cardi B — a former dancer herself — sat down with Vlad TV for an interview to discuss the problem at length. “Have you ever been to a strip club in New York? It’s kinda sad … The bartenders are the new thing right now and if you notice they don’t even hire black bartenders in NYC strip clubs, which is sad. I feel like people have this fetish with these girls they consider ‘exotic’,” she said.

DJ KaySlay joined the conversation on social media as well to share his thoughts, saying: “

“I see the ladies beefing in NY Now, Dancers vs the Bartenders. Smh… We all have to just face the fact that it’s a new day, It was a time where bartenders were only allowed to serve drinks and didn’t wear the same attire as the dancers.”

I see the ladies beefing in NY Now, Dancers vs the Bartenders. Smh… We all have to just face the fact that it's a new day, It was a time where bartenders were only allowed to serve drinks and didn't wear the same attire as the dancers. The ladies did not change that rule the clubs did, And social media made it where some promoters ( not all ) will use popular ladies who never bartended in their life, to bartend at their events an most of all use their IG celebrity to make their fans come out on their nights! New Day! Customers like new shit everything changes , so now it's a matter of dancers and bartenders having to get their fans to come spend money on them in order to eat, fair is fair I get that also. But here is the Fukery, What I do understand and acknowledge is that there is RACISM against black woman in most of these NY strip clubs! It has been going on for a while now it didn't just start? At some of my events when it's celebrities in the VIP I have to grab the black women by their hands and pull them into VIP. My last event this security clown would not let a black dancer in VIP, I told him it's my event let her up there , this fool told me no, I told him you getting paid tonight because of me let her up, he still shook his head, Now we was about to get on his skull , but I wasn't about to fuk up my own event, so I had to get a manager to check his dumb ass, then I removed his stupid ass from his post!! So if that's the argument that's being pushed as far as racism, then I have to agree, They don't let black women on stage when it's big money in the building or VIP, Unless you have built a name for yourself, So knowing this everyone needs to step their game up a notch an get it right!! Or try another state because this is how they playing, but it shouldn't be the ladies beefing with each other because it's not the ladies who set the rules!! But as far as telling women because they bartend they not supposed to eat, it's a new day , not saying it's the way that its supposed to be, but times change an ppl can do what they want with their club.. Personally I feel they should drop both titles "Strippers and Bartenders" because it's all the same shit now!

A post shared by DJ KaySlay (@therealdjkayslay) on Oct 23, 2017 at 10:08pm PDT

Further deepening the dispute is the fact that the situation appears to be entirely in the control of management — the effect of which is pitting women against women in a workplace, an seemingly lose-lose situation for all, unless a compromise is reached.

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