Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders Sue over Pay, Degrading Sexual Comments, & Inappropriate Touching
Claiming they've been taked advantage of, subjected to sexual comments and worked for free, five former Buffalo Bills cheerleaders are suing the team in New York State Supreme Court.
The cheerleaders, called Buffalo Jills, claim to have worked hundreds of hours for free. In addition, the women had to pay $650 for their uniforms and weren't reimbursed for travel. Instead, they were regarded as independent contractors and not entitled to the state minimum wage of $8 per hour.
In fact, one cheerleader claimed she got paid only $150 for the entire 2012-13 football season.
The former Jills members are seeking back pay and legal expenses in the civil action. The suit names Stejon Productions Corp., Citadel Communications Co. and the Buffalo Bills.
In the suit, the cheerleaders are only listed by their first names and last initial to protect their identities.
Besides pay, the former Jills list several other workplace treatment complaints. They explain that "degrading sexual comments and inappropriate touching" occurred as well as being forced to wear bikinis at certain events.
For example, the lawsuit explains how the women were at a charity golf tournament where they were required to wear bikinis, sit in a dunk tank and be auctioned off to tournament participants. The participants then drove them around in the golf cart, where they were subjected to sexual comments and had them sit on their laps if there was no room in the cart.
Stejon President Stephanie Mateczun would not comment on the claims nor would the Buffalo Bills, but the cheerleaders said Mateczun controlled their lives.
They say their hair color and nail polish color was decided by Mateczun, even what they posted on Facebook.
"The team told us how to walk, talk, dress, speak and behave at work and on our own time," Maria P. told WIVB.
"Everything from standing in front of us with a clipboard having us do a jiggle test to see what parts of our body were jiggling," cheerleader Alyssa U. said, "and if that was something that she saw, you were getting benched."
The former cheerleader's lawyer Frank Dolce said the women are entitled to the lost wages, but also deserve respect.
"... So it is about money, but far more importantly it's about the dignity of how you treat a worker in this state and we have set minimum standards that need to be followed," Dolce said.
Maria P. said, "We want the community and all the Bills fans out there to see what we went through, to see what we did off the field. They are there on Sundays cheering on the Bills like we were but they don't see behind the scenes."
Besides the Jills complaint, Raiders and Bengals cheerleaders have complained about wages this year as well.
To view the actual lawsuit, click here.
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