Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders unionize as the team agrees to recognize their new association

One of the most famous cheer squads in sports now has a union. The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to recognize the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as the bargaining representative for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

The team and the new association announced the deal Friday in a joint statement. They said it came after meaningful discussions over the group's request for recognition. The next step is collective bargaining toward an official contract.

"The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are an esteemed part of the Cowboys organization, deeply respected for the talent and dedication they exhibit," the statement said. "They remain one of the most sought-after opportunities for talented dancers worldwide."

A long fight over pay

The move follows years of the cheerleaders pushing for better wages. In 2019 the Cowboys settled a lawsuit from a former cheerleader who said she had been paid less than minimum wage. That settlement led the team to double per-game pay from $200 to $400.

Bigger gains came after the Netflix series "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" put a spotlight on the squad's work. During its second season one cheerleader said members were getting a 400% raise for the 2025 season. Some veteran dancers were reported to be in line for more than $75 an hour.

Back in the team's 1990s heyday the cheerleaders made as little as $15 per game.

A rare step for pro cheer

The association describes itself as the independent labor union of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. It is believed to be the first union for any pro sports cheer squad in the country since a short-lived effort by the Buffalo Bills' Buffalo Jills in the mid-1990s.

The squad currently has 36 active members. It is not yet clear how many will be covered by the union.

The group dates to 1961 but became a professional dance squad in the early 1970s, when team president Tex Schramm hired choreographer Texie Waterman. She helped create the star-spangled uniform the cheerleaders still wear today.

The Cowboys are widely ranked as the most valuable pro sports team in the world.