The team will now begin collective bargaining with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association after years of pay disputes.
The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to recognize the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as the collective bargaining representative for the team's cheer squad, and notably, the organization didn't fight it.
In a statement, the union called the cheerleaders "an esteemed part of the Cowboys organization, deeply respected for the talent and dedication they exhibit," adding that the role remains "one of the most sought-after opportunities for talented dancers worldwide."
The move gives the cheerleaders a formal mechanism to negotiate pay and working conditions through collective bargaining, along with the leverage that comes with the ability to strike. Compensation for the squad had already become a public talking point after the Netflix series "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" put a spotlight on how little the cheerleaders were paid relative to the attention and revenue the team generates.
Unionization among NFL cheerleading squads is rare, and most teams have historically resisted it. The Buffalo Jills previously attempted a similar push.