Lapdancers told to unionise

The new club has been plagued by protests

Lapdancers in South Yorkshire are being urged to join a trade union to prevent their exploitation by the sex industry.

Ana Lopes - founder of the International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW) - will be in Sheffield on Wednesday night to speak to dancers from the recently opened Spearmint Rhino club.

"Lapdancers are workers and therefore should have the same rights as other workers," she said.

"People who choose to work as erotic dancers should be able to do so safely and without fear of discrimination.

Protestors were outside court this week

"The answer is to help the workers to organise and improve their working conditions."

The open meeting will take place at the Showroom Cinema at 1900GMT.

A spokesman for one of the meeting's organisers insists public hostility is misplaced and said: "We hope to widen the debate to address the many issues around the sex industry.

"The meeting is open to the public and workers from Spearmint Rhino or any similar clubs are very welcome to attend."