Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders unionize

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad has formally unionized after years of disputes over low pay and working conditions. The club announced that it recognizes the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association (DCCA) as the squad's collective bargaining representative, and both sides issued a joint statement.

The process began in 2018. Former squad member Erica Wilkins filed a federal lawsuit against the Dallas Cowboys, the most valuable club in the NFL, seeking fair pay. Wilkins claimed she earned an average of 15 thousand dollars per season, less than the team's male mascot. A settlement reached in 2019 raised the per-game payment from 200 dollars to 400 dollars.

The issue returned to the spotlight with Netflix's documentary "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders." The squad then secured a pay increase of 400 percent for the 2025 season. The unionization step followed.

Virginia Commonwealth University professor Victor Chen said the squad may have benefited from the documentary's high visibility during this process. Chen also said the club might have considered replacing the cheerleaders with new faces if they had not become recognizable as individuals.

The Cowboys are not the first NFL club to unionize. The Buffalo Bills' squad, the Buffalo Jills, unionized in 1995. However, that squad was disbanded in 2014 following a lawsuit that included claims of unpaid work and mistreatment.