Erotic dancers join union

Many girls have horrific stories of exploitation in clubs

Erotic dancers have turned to a leading trade union in an effort to see working conditions in the industry improved.

The girls joined the General, Municipal and Boilermakers' Union (GMB), after hearing it had started a sex workers' branch for dancers in London.

Seventeen dancers, from Club Creme in Bristol, hope the union will be able to help improve conditions and provide a safer working environment across the country.

The Bristol table dancers, who have no physical contact with customers, said they are concerned that some clubs allow girls to dance in private booths without security.

Customers can see girls stripping at the club

The GMB's Dan Hodges said: "We have had significant rises in recruitment in the sex industry recently - it's an area that's not traditionally been represented.

"We think representation is required because of the nature of the work - people can be susceptible to exploitation, obviously."

Club Creme's management met representatives from the union earlier this week - although the club's dancers have no local grievances.

A spokeswoman for the club said: "We have had 17 girls joined so far.

"The girls that came from other clubs had horrific stories - many involving owners as well as customers.

"I spoke to one club owner recently who said, 'do we really want to give people rights?'

"All we want to do is safeguard their security and get rid of the private booths in these clubs, where there is no security."

Club Creme was the first in Bristol to be given a full nudity licence when councillors gave their blessing in October.