Montreal strippers announced plans to strike on May 23, the day before the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, to protest working conditions and demand employment rights [1, 2]. The strike is organized by the Sex Work Autonomous Committee (SWAC), which seeks full recognition of strippers as employees rather than independent contractors [1, 2, 3].
SWAC’s main demand is the abolition of the “bar fee,” a charge strippers must pay clubs to perform [1, 2, 3]. They also call for safe and sanitary working conditions, along with an end to discrimination in hiring and scheduling practices [1, 2]. Currently, strippers are classified as independent contractors, similar to plumbers, which SWAC says disadvantages dancers compared to true independent contractors [1, 2, 3]. The committee explained, "As strippers, we are considered independent contractors, this means that on paper we are treated the same as, say, an independent plumber that you would hire for your home repairs. The independent contractor plumber is responsible to no one but themself, while the independent contractor stripper is responsible to club management, at the expense of their job" [1].
The timing of the strike was chosen to coincide with the Grand Prix weekend because it is the busiest and most lucrative period for strip clubs [1, 2, 3]. SWAC stated, "The clubs are at their busiest, making it the most lucrative period of the year for our boss. This is our chance to threaten that income and affect them when it hurts the most. During this time, despite management making more money, dancers have to put up with ... generally worse working conditions" [2].
The strike could complicate nightlife in Montreal, which will also host Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix races and qualifying events on May 24 [3]. Additionally, the Montreal Canadiens hockey team may play a key playoff game on May 24, potentially affecting the city's entertainment dynamics [3].
Reports about the strike first emerged on May 15 [1, 2]. Despite somewhat differing accounts on whether the strike falls exactly on May 23 or during the Grand Prix weekend broadly, the core goal remains to push for labor and workplace reforms for strippers in Montreal [1, 2, 3]. The planned strike will start on May 23, the eve of the Grand Prix weekend [1, 2].
