The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are unionizing
NBC News • • sports
Key Points:
- The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have successfully formed a union, marking the first known unionization among professional sports cheerleading squads in the U.S. since the Buffalo Jills in the mid-1990s.
- The Dallas Cowboys have officially recognized the cheerleaders' bargaining unit following discussions, with the next step being negotiations for an official contract.
- The squad, consisting of 36 active members, recently gained significant attention from the Netflix series "America’s Sweethearts," which contributed to a 400% pay raise for the 2025 season.
- Past controversies include a lawsuit alleging pay below minimum wage, which the Cowboys settled, and historically low pay during the 1990s when cheerleaders earned as little as $15 per game.
- The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have a long history dating back to 1961 and professionalized in the early 1970s, with their iconic star-spangled uniforms designed during that era.
