Two Alabama strip club dancers are suing their former employer for several alleged violations, including a “socialist” tip-sharing system.
Former dancers at Sammy’s Strip Club in Birmingham, Alabama, say the club’s owners “imposed a socialist economic system” by demanding that tips be shared among the club’s staff as part of an “illegal tipping pool.” he claimed.
“[Club owners] The lawsuit, filed Sunday in the Northern District of Alabama, said it “forced the dancers into a socialist economic system and required them to subsidize their co-workers.”
The two dancers, whose identities are not disclosed in the lawsuit, said they were classified as independent contractors and denied minimum wage and overtime pay.
“While employed by Defendants, Plaintiffs were denied minimum wage payments and denied overtime as part of Defendants’ scheme to classify Plaintiffs and other dancers and entertainers as ‘independent contractors.'” says the complaint.
The complaint, citing the Department of Labor, alleges that this “system” is proliferating in U.S. workplaces “as a means to cut costs and avoid compliance with labor laws.”
The dancers also said the club’s owner forced them to pay a labor kickback known as a “house fee,” which the club would increase later in the night, according to the complaint.
“Defendants would also force plaintiffs to pay kickbacks to the club just for working. These kickbacks were called ‘housing costs.’ “To further control Plaintiff, the club would increase the amount of the rebate later in the evening,” the lawsuit states.
Former dancers at Sammy’s Gentlemen’s Club in Birmingham are seeking $100,000.
Ten other anonymous Sammy employees are also named as defendants.
FOX News has reached out to Sammy’s Gentleman’s Club for comment.
