Exotic dancers target Canadian Grand Prix weekend with Montreal strike

A group of exotic dancers has announced a strike coinciding with the Canadian Grand Prix at the end of this month. This is being done with the aim of putting pressure on club owners for improved labour rights as millions of eyes fall on Montreal for the Formula 1 race weekend.

The Sex Work Autonomous Committee has called for the strike on 23 May, the eve of the grand prix and the day of the sprint race. As quoted by Reuters, the committee explained the reasoning behind the campaign.

"We think the grand prix is the best time to strike," a statement read. "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." 

The bar fee has come under strong scrutiny, with the group providing figures last year to illustrate just how much of a financial impact it has on its members. According to the SWAC, one Montreal club was charging $110 per night across the five nights of F1 events. With it hosting an average of 60 dancers per night, the business was collecting approximately $33,000 in revenue from these fees alone. 

The SWAC is therefore arguing that the current definition of worker allows these bars to hold too much power.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

"The reality is that we're clearly trapped in an employer/employee power dynamic, and the bar fee model benefits only the bosses." The group went further, addressing the question of overbooking and workplace safety: "Indeed, they have every incentive to bring in as many dancers as possible each night to maximise their profits. As for our safety, our employers show very little concern and leave us to handle it on our own."

On top of this, the group argues that while its dancers act as independent contractors, they are forced to abide by certain schedules, dress requirements and other workplace rules, while not reaping the benefits and protections of an employed worker. 

"Since we're not salaried employees, we don't have access to the protections that other workers usually have," Celeste Ivy told the Montreal Gazette.

A record 352,000 people attended the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, and the race brings one of the largest surges in tourism the city sees during the year. As leverage goes, this is as big as it gets.