Today, Cheree and Katie sit down with a former Calendar Girls worker Alice* to speak about the collective contract negotiations that they claim resulted in 19 women getting dropped. She also speaks about wider issues in the industry and what they would like to see change. 

*Alice's name has been changed to protect her privacy. 

Calendar Girls claimed in a statement it had not changed its private dancer cost for 12 years. “In hindsight we should put the cost up a little each year.” The organisation said that while the percentage had changed, the contractor amount went up. However, the former worker disagreed and said a 50 per cent cut was less than 60 per cent. Calendar Girls also said the contracts were written by a specialist lawyer and although there were fines in the contracts “not one” has been issued in Wellington this financial year. “The 19 contractors, some of which who have already moved on or only do a day here and there and, with a limited amount of lockers, we need them for new contractors working weekly. All of which were told they could re-apply online.” A dancer also disputed the claim they were told to re-apply.

Today, Cheree and Katie sit down with a former Calendar Girls worker Alice* to speak about the collective contract negotiations that they claim resulted in 19 women getting dropped. She also speaks about wider issues in the industry and what they would like to see change. 
*Alice's name has been changed to protect her privacy. 
Calendar Girls claimed in a statement it had not changed its private dancer cost for 12 years. “In hindsight we should put the cost up a little each year.” The organisation said that while the percentage had changed, the contractor amount went up. However, the former worker disagreed and said a 50 per cent cut was less than 60 per cent. Calendar Girls also said the contracts were written by a specialist lawyer and although there were fines in the contracts “not one” has been issued in Wellington this financial year. “The 19 contractors, some of which who have already moved on or only do a day here and there and, with a limited amount of lockers, we need them for new contractors working weekly. All of which were told they could re-apply online.” A dancer also disputed the claim they were told to re-apply.

Each Tuesday New Zealand Herald Journalists Katie Harris and Cheree Kinnear take a closer look at an issue, event or topic that’s been filling up our news feeds or taking over our water cooler chats. Whether that’s the reality of working in a high-end brothel, the growing obsession with white-collar magic mushroom use or a day in the life of a West Auckland cop we’ll take you behind the scenes of some of the biggest stories. From politics, crime and even a little bit of entertainment we’re here to keep you in the loop. 

Each Tuesday New Zealand Herald Journalists Katie Harris and Cheree Kinnear take a closer look at an issue, event or topic that’s been filling up our news feeds or taking over our water cooler chats. Whether that’s the reality of working in a high-end brothel, the growing obsession with white-collar magic mushroom use or a day in the life of a West Auckland cop we’ll take you behind the scenes of some of the biggest stories. From politics, crime and even a little bit of entertainment we’re here to keep you in the loop.

In a world of 24-hour news accessible at the touch of a phone, it can be hard staying in the loop and following an ever-changing news cycle. That's why every Friday morning, NZ Herald journalists Rosie Gordon and Katie Harris will take an in-depth look...

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