The NFL is a huge conglomerate, essentially an industry unto itself. Why then, asks former New York Jets cheerleader Krystal C., can't the league pay up when it comes to the highly profitable cheering squads? Her recent lawsuit addressed the league-wide low pay, if not the rumored sexist practices that seem to permeate handbooks throughout the league.
While saying nothing of the demeaning beauty and hygiene practices allegedly employed elsewhere, the class action lawsuit lays out the number of unfair pay practices that the Jets organization propagates (via LA Times):
"Krystal C. alleges in her lawsuit that although she earned $150 a game, plus $100 for outside appearances, she was not paid for thrice-weekly practices or rehearsals, or for compulsory participation in the for-profit cheerleading camps sponsored by the Jets.
For the entire season, Krystal earned $1,800. That comes out to around $3.77 an hour, according to her attorney, Patricia Pierce. It would be even less if Krystal deducted the $45 per week she spent on mandatory straightening of her curly hair. Or the $80 she spent on the 'motivational gift' she was required to give each member of the 40-woman squad, and its director. (She gave them homemade picture frames, at a cost of $80.)
'It's like you end up virtually paying them for the privilege of being a cheerleader. The failure to pay the women who work as cheerleaders a legal wage for all of the hours that they work is clearly an NFL-wide problem that needs to change.'"
While this is the fourth lawsuit to be brought about this year, the problem seems to be pandemic throughout the league.
What do you think? Should cheerleaders be paid for practices? Shouldn't they be allowed to write off mandatory expenses incurred while in the employ of the NFL?
Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
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