As if France doesn’t have enough trade unions: sex workers start their own syndicat
Around 20,000 people in France make a living providing sexual entertainment. Now they want to be recognized as a regular workforce. The spanking new Syndicat du Travail Sexuel (Strass for short) is going to be the instrument in their battle.The union aims to liaise with the government, especially the departments of Health and Labor. Everybody who works in the pleasure business (prostitutes, porn actors, strippers and rose phone operators) is welcome, as long as they are professionals because, as one spokeswoman says, “we’re not here for housewives who prostitute themselves at the end of the month when money runs out“.
Within a week, Strass has already registered 200 members, representing one percent of the estimated workforce. The number is equal to the average trade union membership in France, and far superior to similar unions abroad (the English union of sex workers counts only 50 members).
There’s no word about imminent strikes yet.
