Cowboys recognize cheerleaders’ bargaining association

The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to recognize the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as the cheerleaders’ collective bargaining representative, setting the stage for negotiations over the squad’s first labor agreement. The Cowboys organization and the newly formed association announced the recognition on October 23, following discussions about the association’s request. The parties said they are preparing for collective bargaining. No agreement setting new pay, benefits or workplace protections has been finalized. The squad has 36 members, according to reports, but the number who will be covered by the bargaining unit has not been publicly confirmed. One account described the roster as 28 veterans and eight rookies. The association’s precise scope will be important in defining whom the eventual contract represents. The recognition comes after years of public attention to cheerleaders’ compensation. A lawsuit filed in 2018 by former cheerleader Erica Wilkins alleged unfair pay practices, including that she earned less than minimum wage and less than the team’s male mascot. The dispute ended in a 2019 settlement that increased game-day compensation, according to one account....