The Dallas Cowboys have voluntarily recognized the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association (DCCA) as the collective bargaining representative for their cheerleading squad, the team said in a Friday news release. The move follows years of public advocacy by squad members calling for better wages and working conditions.
According to the announcement, the recognition came after what the organisation described as "meaningful discussion" between the Cowboys and the DCCA. With recognition in place, the parties are set to begin collective bargaining to negotiate pay, benefits and other terms of employment.
Voluntary recognition means the team has accepted the DCCA as the squad’s bargaining representative without a formal election overseen by federal labour authorities. The next phase will involve negotiations between the association and the Cowboys organisation to agree a contract governing the squad’s pay and working conditions.
Cheerleaders across professional sports in the United States have in recent years raised concerns over compensation and labour practices. Supporters of the DCCA hailed the Cowboys’ decision as a decisive step toward addressing the squad’s long-standing demands for fairer pay, while the team framed the recognition as the result of constructive dialogue ahead of formal bargaining.
Details on the timeline for negotiations or the rank-and-file vote that led to the DCCA’s status were not included in the release. Both sides said they would move forward with collective bargaining, but did not provide an immediate schedule for talks.