The Associated Press

Published 5:19 am PST Friday, March 17, 2006  

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Australian strippers have won

the right to take time off after taking their clothes

off.

The country's Industrial Relations Commission on

Friday approved new workplace rules for members of the

strippers' union, the Striptease Artists Australia.

 "We've got rights to have public holiday pay now,

which we've never had in our career before," said a

union spokeswoman called Mystical Melody. "We've got

rosters and set hours. We can't work more than 10

hours a shift."

The award also entitles unionized strippers to overtime,

rest periods, meal breaks and maternity leave, she added.

"The majority of workers in the industry are women,"

Melody said, "so it's probably a really great thing

for them to be able to feel confident of having a job

after they've had their babies."

Industrial relations commissioner Bill Mansfield said

the award set out minimum working conditions but did

not set out pay rates.

It was not immediately clear how many members the

union has. Its members are believed to work mainly in

strip bars and as erotic dancers.

In the past, other strippers have criticized the

union, saying its demands for better pay and

conditions could lead to job losses.

Sex workers home

All Women Count home