The Oakland Raiders, a professional football team named after a pillaging band of seamen, are being sued by the Raiderette cheerleading squad for wage theft, unfair employment practices and other such pirate-like behavior.
According to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Alameda County Superior Court, the Raiders cheerleaders are accusing the team of withholding their already meager pay of $1,250 per year until the end of the season. They also claim the team doesn't pay for all their hours and the women are forced to cover many of their own expenses related to being on the squad.
As if the fact that their yearly salaries are less than many people's paychecks, the cheerleaders pay for their own hair, makeup, and travel expenses. Adding to the slave-like conditions in Oakland the Raiderettes would have to pay fines if they wore the wrong clothes, brought the wrong pom-poms or forgot to bring their yoga mats to practice.
"I love the Raiders and I love being a Raiderette," said head lawsuit cheerleader/plaintiff Lacy T. explained, "but someone has to stand up for all of the women of the NFL who work so hard for the fans and the teams."