10/23/2026 05:26:00
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10/23 17:24 CDT Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders unionize after years of fighting
for higher pay
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders unionize after years of fighting for higher pay
By JAMIE STENGLE
Associated Press
DALLAS (AP) --- The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are unionizing.
The NFL franchise has agreed to recognize the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Association as the collective bargaining representative for one of the most
famous cheer squads in professional sports, both sides said in a joint
statement Friday, which follows years of the cheerleaders fighting for pay
increases.
"The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are an esteemed part of the Cowboys
organization, deeply respected for the talent and dedication they exhibit," the
statement said. "They remain one of the most sought-after opportunities for
talented dancers worldwide."
During the second season of the Netflix series "America's Sweethearts: Dallas
Cowboy Cheerleaders," which aired last year, one of the cheerleaders said that
the members were getting a 400% boost in pay. In 2019, the Cowboys settled a
lawsuit with a former cheerleader that led to the squad doubling the per-game
pay, from $200 to $400. So the raise announced in 2025 was four times that.
A contact for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association could not immediately
be found on Friday.
The Cowboys have been the most valuable pro sports team in the world, according
to Forbes magazine.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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