The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have officially unionized after years of pushing for better pay and working conditions. The Cowboys agreed Friday to recognize the newly formed Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association (DCCA) as the union representing the squad, clearing the way for formal collective bargaining.

The agreement followed what both sides described as “meaningful discussion.” The team and the association announced the recognition in a joint statement, although they did not provide a timeline for negotiations or details about the terms they will seek.

The move follows years of scrutiny over the cheerleaders’ compensation, including a 2018 lawsuit filed by former squad member Erica Wilkins. She alleged that she earned approximately $16,500 during her highest-paid season and challenged disparities between her compensation and that of the Cowboys’ male mascot.

The lawsuit was settled in 2019, leading to an increase in game-day pay from $200 to $400 and higher hourly wages. Compensation remained a subject of debate, however, as cheerleaders continued to balance demanding schedules with other employment.

The issue gained wider attention through Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which documented the squad’s demanding routines and financial concerns. During the series’ second season, members discussed receiving a 400% pay increase for the 2025 season, with some veteran cheerleaders earning approximately $75 per hour.

Union recognition gives the cheerleaders a formal representative in negotiations with the organization over compensation and workplace conditions. The specific benefits and contract terms that could result from the talks have not yet been announced.

The Cowboys Cheerleaders, established in 1961, are among the most recognizable squads in professional sports. Their unionization follows an earlier effort by the Buffalo Jills, the Buffalo Bills’ former cheerleading squad, which gained the right to unionize in 1995 before eventually disbanding.

The agreement marks a new stage in the Dallas squad’s efforts to negotiate collectively with one of the NFL’s most valuable franchises.