Story perspectives

Cowboys Recognize Cheerleaders’ Union, Approve 400% Pay Rise

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 2:29 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Dallas Cowboys recognized the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as their collective-bargaining representative.
The association is the first professional-sports cheerleading union in the United States.
Cheerleaders will receive a 400% pay increase for 2025, with veterans earning over $75 per hour.
A 2019 settlement doubled per-game pay from $200 to $400 after a former cheerleader sued.

History

Historical Context

In 1966, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) became the United States’ first recognized professional-sports labor union, securing collective bargaining rights. The 1970 MLBPA contract lifted the minimum salary from $7,000 to $12,000, a 71% increase championed by Curt Flood and Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Today, the Dallas Cowboys recognized the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as its collective-bargaining representative, echoing the MLBPA’s precedent for athlete representation. The cheerleaders’ 400% pay raise to over $75 per hour signals expanding union influence across sports, prompting broader labor reforms nationwide.

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Story summary

The Dallas Cowboys recognized the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as their collective-bargaining representative.
The association is the first professional-sports cheerleading union in the United States.
Cheerleaders will receive a 400% pay increase for 2025, with veterans earning over $75 per hour.
A 2019 settlement doubled per-game pay from $200 to $400 after a former cheerleader sued.

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