The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are getting a jaw dropping 400% raise. This is a big deal for a team that has fought to stay alive as recently as last season. The group is providing a huge increase for its cheerleading team. This important step acknowledges their commitment and resolve of daily teachers and caregivers to fight for higher pay.
Brian Schottenheimer, who was just announced as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, would be replacing Johnson. He takes on this role at a time when the cheerleaders’ calls become louder and more powerful. The cheerleaders have been organizing for better pay increases for years and this recent hire is the result of their relentless work. In 2019, the organization settled with a former cheerleader. So they increased per-game pay from $200 a game to $400. The new raise now more than quadruples that first raise, but more importantly, it’s an indication that union leadership is finally prioritizing fair wages.
Jada McLean, one of the former cheerleaders, told NPR she was thrilled by the new pay arrangement.
“Happy isn’t even the right word for it,” – Jada McLean
McLean said the raise is “life-changing.” On a personal level, she’s grateful that their years of work have finally borne fruit. The cheerleaders’ advocacy has been key in making this change happen.
Fellow squad member Megan McElaney shared the same appreciation as McLean, saying that the team really cares about their cheerleaders.
“Our efforts were heard and they wanted to give us a raise,” – Megan McElaney
This long overdue positive shift in compensation comes at a critical time. Whether or not Schottenheimer’s scheme will even be a good fit for the team remains to be seen. And ESPN analysts Mike Tannenbaum and Dan Graziano have been gauging the influence Schottenheimer’s leadership can bring to the team chemistry moving forward.
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