G
GlavaMan
This was in the Ottawa Sun today:
Wed, January 28, 2004
Safety touchy subject for local strippers
By JOHN STEINBACHS, Ottawa Sun
Their jobs may strip them of their clothes but not their rights, says a local group representing exotic dancers. "Exotic dancers should be treated like any other workers," said Samantha Smyth, the executive director of the Dancers' Equal Rights Association of Ottawa-Carleton.
The group says strip clubs can sometimes be unsanitary and unsafe workplaces and provincial and municipal regulators need to enforce existing laws to protect the women who work there. DERA held a roundtable discussion with regulators yesterday in Ottawa to bring up issues ranging from low pay to assault.
LITTLE PROTECTION
Smyth said many local dancers are sick of being treated as second-class workers with little or no protection from law enforcement.
For instance, the sexual touching of a fast-food employee would certainly draw a charge, but the sexual touching of a stripper goes unnoticed, she said.
She said many dancers work as freelancers, only earning money through table and lap dances and receiving no minimum or base wage. They also have to pay the club a DJ fee for the time they're working.
The city is already working to clean up the rules on strip clubs, possibly making it easier to crack down when customers don't keep their hands to themselves.
Bylaw staff are also looking at ways to harmonize the outdated laws governing adult entertainment parlours and hope to have the job done by next fall.
'IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE'
"Right now, it's impossible to enforce," said director of bylaw services Linda Anderson of the bylaws left over from the former cities. "The law says touching is not allowed."
Anderson could not think of an incident in which someone was charged under any of the current adult entertainment bylaws.
There are many legal issues the bylaw has to take into account and Anderson said the city would like to see one law developed for the entire province. She said the city has begun consultations on the new bylaw and will consult the police to see what tools they need to help enforce the ban on touching activity in clubs.
Smyth said the only time dancers see a bylaw officer is when they're in a club looking for smokers. The group is also calling for the development of health and safety rules governing strip clubs. "
My 2 cents...
This must be a small minority of dancers because it's been two years since I was offered an 'air dance'. If a dancer doesn't want to be touched then she can offer the $10 airdance BUT she knows she won't make nearly the money she is at $20. They still have a choice right now. If there is a crackdown on touching, they are going to make ALOT less $.
Wed, January 28, 2004
Safety touchy subject for local strippers
By JOHN STEINBACHS, Ottawa Sun
Their jobs may strip them of their clothes but not their rights, says a local group representing exotic dancers. "Exotic dancers should be treated like any other workers," said Samantha Smyth, the executive director of the Dancers' Equal Rights Association of Ottawa-Carleton.
The group says strip clubs can sometimes be unsanitary and unsafe workplaces and provincial and municipal regulators need to enforce existing laws to protect the women who work there. DERA held a roundtable discussion with regulators yesterday in Ottawa to bring up issues ranging from low pay to assault.
LITTLE PROTECTION
Smyth said many local dancers are sick of being treated as second-class workers with little or no protection from law enforcement.
For instance, the sexual touching of a fast-food employee would certainly draw a charge, but the sexual touching of a stripper goes unnoticed, she said.
She said many dancers work as freelancers, only earning money through table and lap dances and receiving no minimum or base wage. They also have to pay the club a DJ fee for the time they're working.
The city is already working to clean up the rules on strip clubs, possibly making it easier to crack down when customers don't keep their hands to themselves.
Bylaw staff are also looking at ways to harmonize the outdated laws governing adult entertainment parlours and hope to have the job done by next fall.
'IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE'
"Right now, it's impossible to enforce," said director of bylaw services Linda Anderson of the bylaws left over from the former cities. "The law says touching is not allowed."
Anderson could not think of an incident in which someone was charged under any of the current adult entertainment bylaws.
There are many legal issues the bylaw has to take into account and Anderson said the city would like to see one law developed for the entire province. She said the city has begun consultations on the new bylaw and will consult the police to see what tools they need to help enforce the ban on touching activity in clubs.
Smyth said the only time dancers see a bylaw officer is when they're in a club looking for smokers. The group is also calling for the development of health and safety rules governing strip clubs. "
My 2 cents...
This must be a small minority of dancers because it's been two years since I was offered an 'air dance'. If a dancer doesn't want to be touched then she can offer the $10 airdance BUT she knows she won't make nearly the money she is at $20. They still have a choice right now. If there is a crackdown on touching, they are going to make ALOT less $.
