PAHRUMP, Nev. — Sex workers at Sheri’s Ranch, a licensed brothel in rural Nevada, have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to become the first unionized brothel workers in the United States, a move spurred by a new contract they say threatens their livelihoods and control over their image.
The petition, submitted last week under the name United Brothel Workers and represented by the Communications Workers of America, comes after the brothel’s management introduced a new independent-contractor agreement in December. Workers allege the agreement grants Sheri’s Ranch broad rights to use their likenesses without consent, even after they cease working at the establishment.
“One day you’re the face of a Japanese lubricant brand or an AI-companion site, and you never see a penny,” said Jupiter Jetson, a performer at Sheri’s Ranch who requested her legal name be withheld due to fears of harassment. “We wish the same things that any other worker wants— a safe and respectful workplace,” she added.
Nevada is unique in the United States, being the only state where prostitution is legal, but only in licensed brothels within ten rural counties. Sheri’s Ranch, located approximately an hour from Las Vegas, is one of the oldest and most well-known of these establishments.
The dispute escalated after the alleged termination of three workers and threats of further dismissals to those who refused to sign the new contract, according to legal representatives for the nascent union. The contract grants Sheri’s Ranch an “irrevocable, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive license” over the performers’ images and content, raising concerns among workers about long-term control of their personal brand and potential exploitation.
Molly Wilder, another worker at Sheri’s Ranch, expressed concern that the contract terms could hinder her future opportunities. “This could trap me in the industry while I’m trying to fund student loans,” she said.
Barb Brents, a Nevada sex-industry scholar, notes that the workers are currently classified as independent contractors, a designation that limits their labor protections. The workers argue that their working conditions – including scheduled hours, a 50% earnings split with the ranch (on fees exceeding $1,000 per hour), and dress code requirements – more closely resemble those of employees. “In our dream scenario, we would be recognized as employees to gain full bargaining power,” Jetson stated.
As of February 14, 2026, the National Labor Relations Board has not yet ruled on the petition. Sheri’s Ranch management has not publicly commented on the unionization effort or the specific terms of the new contract.
