Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders unionize after years of pay disputes as collective bargaining begins(Getty)
union recognition opens a new chapter in its push for better workplace terms While the squad received a major pay increase in 2025. In 2018, former Cowboys cheerleader Erica Wilkins filed a lawsuit over her pay. The case ended in a 2019 settlement that doubled the squad’s per-game pay from $200 to $400. The Buffalo Jills, who cheered for the Buffalo Bills, won the right to unionize in 1995. The squad later disbanded after a 2014 lawsuit raised allegations involving unpaid work and sexual harassment.
Virginia Commonwealth University professor Victor Chen, who studies labor issues as a sociologist said that Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders were likely helped by having such a high profile and the Netflix show. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have taken a major step in their fight for better pay. Recently, the Cowboys agreed to recognize the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as the squad’s collective bargaining representative. The decision gives the cheerleaders a formal voice in negotiations with the NFL franchise after years of debate over their compensation. The move comes after the Netflix series America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders brought their working lives and financial struggles to a wider audience. The statement praised the squad’s talent and dedication and described the cheerleaders as an important part of the organization. The development follows years of scrutiny over cheerleader compensation. That increase marked a significant change, but it did not end questions about how much cheerleaders earned for their work. Their responsibilities extend beyond performing during NFL games, with rehearsals, appearances and other duties also demanding time and effort. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are not the first NFL cheerleading squad to pursue union representation.
The Cowboys and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association announced the agreement in a joint statement on Friday.
Because there are many people who would take jobs in the entertainment industry at low pay, he also said that without that the team may have just tried to replace the cheerleaders.