A group of exotic dancers in Montreal is planning a strike over improved working conditions during the weekend of the upcoming Formula One Canadian Grand Prix.
“We think the Grand Prix is the best time to strike,” read a statement released to Reuters. “The clubs are at their busiest, making it the most lucrative period of the year for our boss. This is our chance to threaten that income and affect them when it hurts the most. During this time, despite management making more money, dancers have to put up with a list of new rules, increased bar fees, overbooking and generally worse working conditions.”
What do the dancers want, and why are they going to strike?
According to the group, its members want labor protections, complete decriminalization of their work by the federal government, and an end to the nightly fees that dancers must pay to work in clubs.
The group claims that during the five nights of Formula One events, one club in Montreal was charging $110 per night. The company was making about $33,000 from these fees alone, with an average of 60 dancers each night.
Some dancers will refuse to pay the bar fee during the strike, which they have set for Saturday, May 23, the day of the Formula One sprint race and the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix, while others will not take customers. Since participation is optional, it’s unclear how many dancers will actually go on strike.
“The reality is that we’re clearly trapped in an employer/employee power dynamic, and the bar fee model benefits only the bosses. Indeed, they have every incentive to bring in as many dancers as possible each night to maximize their profits,” the statement continued. “As for our safety, our employers show very little concern and leave us to handle it on our own.”
Mercedes driver George Russell won the 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix. A record 352,000 people reportedly attended the week’s events.