A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that strippers at one New York City club who sued over the owner's fee-for-work rule are correct -- they are entitled to protections under labor laws. That means they are entitled to be paid at least minimum wage, the judge said.The suit started after strippers said their club manager at Rick's Cabaret International wrongfully forced them to pay numerous fees in order to perform at the facility. Moreover, they weren't paid any wages but only allowed to keep a certain portion of their tips from customers, they said.
The club argued they were independent contractors and not entitled to wages.
But Judge Paul Engelmayer found in favor of the strippers. He said they were the "main attraction" at the club, key to the business' success.
A spokesman for the club was defiant in the face of the judge's ruling, saying that operations would not change and that an appeal was in the works, AP reported.