Since their last Super Bowl appearance in 2002, the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) hasn’t made the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons. This season, they ended up with a 4-12 win-loss record, which was the same record they had from the prior season. That placed the Raiders dead-last on the West Division standings of the NFL’s American Football Conference (AFC). Indeed, the team, the organization, and its fans are going through tough times. Unfortunately, their misfortunes may not end anytime soon, as the Raiders’ organization is facing a new battle. This time, it’s not on the stadium, but on the court of law.
According to news reports, the team’s cheerleaders, the Raiderettes, filed a lawsuit in the Alameda County Superior Court against the team Wednesday, January 22. Apparently, the former and current cheerleaders of the football team were claiming that the organization engaged in unlawful employment practices, wherein they were being deprived of wages and other labor rights.
The cheerleading squad’s lawsuit asserts that the team forced them to pay some of their business expenses on their own while not being paid for all their hours worked. The organization also allegedly withholds all pay from the cheerleaders until the end of the Raiders’ season. According to attorney Sharon Vinick, the allegations of the cheerleaders show that those who are in authority within the Raiders’ organization disregard the laws protecting all California workers.
Also, the Raiders contracted the cheerleaders to receive a yearly salary worth $1,250.00, amounting to just less than $5.00-per-hour rate. In fact, they were also being fined for certain infractions during practice routines. The lead plaintiff in the lawsuit even said in one report that they even have to pay for all their travel and accommodation expenses when they go to photoshoots, rehearsals, and other important appearances in certain events.
In all, the lawsuit is claiming that the former members of the Raiderettes are owed unpaid wages amounting to “tens of thousands of dollars,” while the current members of the team’s cheerleading squad are owed thousands of dollars in penalties. Meanwhile, the team’s spokesperson declined comment on the lawsuit’s allegations.
For Los Angeles employment lawyers, finding an employer engaging in unfair employment practices such as failure to pay wages promptly and correctly may cause it to face stiff penalties, not to mention having to pay aggrieved employees all the compensation they deserved. In the case of the Raiders, whether or not this lawsuit would tarnish the American football team’s reputation as one of the most popular teams in the NFL remains to be seen, as they are yet to respond to the Raiderettes’ allegations. As for now, they have to look forward to the future and turn themselves around after their dismal season.
According to news reports, the team’s cheerleaders, the Raiderettes, filed a lawsuit in the Alameda County Superior Court against the team Wednesday, January 22. Apparently, the former and current cheerleaders of the football team were claiming that the organization engaged in unlawful employment practices, wherein they were being deprived of wages and other labor rights.
The cheerleading squad’s lawsuit asserts that the team forced them to pay some of their business expenses on their own while not being paid for all their hours worked. The organization also allegedly withholds all pay from the cheerleaders until the end of the Raiders’ season. According to attorney Sharon Vinick, the allegations of the cheerleaders show that those who are in authority within the Raiders’ organization disregard the laws protecting all California workers.
Also, the Raiders contracted the cheerleaders to receive a yearly salary worth $1,250.00, amounting to just less than $5.00-per-hour rate. In fact, they were also being fined for certain infractions during practice routines. The lead plaintiff in the lawsuit even said in one report that they even have to pay for all their travel and accommodation expenses when they go to photoshoots, rehearsals, and other important appearances in certain events.
In all, the lawsuit is claiming that the former members of the Raiderettes are owed unpaid wages amounting to “tens of thousands of dollars,” while the current members of the team’s cheerleading squad are owed thousands of dollars in penalties. Meanwhile, the team’s spokesperson declined comment on the lawsuit’s allegations.
For Los Angeles employment lawyers, finding an employer engaging in unfair employment practices such as failure to pay wages promptly and correctly may cause it to face stiff penalties, not to mention having to pay aggrieved employees all the compensation they deserved. In the case of the Raiders, whether or not this lawsuit would tarnish the American football team’s reputation as one of the most popular teams in the NFL remains to be seen, as they are yet to respond to the Raiderettes’ allegations. As for now, they have to look forward to the future and turn themselves around after their dismal season.