NUM’s Statement on Bristol City Council’s decision to reject a nil-cap on SEV licensing
28 July 2022
We are delighted to hear that Bristol City Council has today voted to reject a proposal to introduce a nil-cap on strip club licensing within the city. The decision, which was achieved by a 9-1 majority, represents a clear commitment from Bristol Council to safeguarding the rights of those who work within SEVs (sexual entertainment venues), providing them with safer, regulated workplaces and protection through legal worker status.
We would particularly like to thank Bristol Sex Workers’ Collective and United Sex Workers, both of whom have worked on this campaign for two years, and who have shown incredible strength, dignity, resilience and power throughout. It is thanks to your hard work that this victory has been achieved.
NUM submitted a statement to the committee in advance of the decision, which you can read here.
With this decision, Bristol Council has prevented the devastating impact of hundreds of workers becoming unemployed during one of the biggest cost of living crises of a generation, being pushed into more underground, precarious and dangerous work, and the loss of the protections they have as workers under law. Dancers will be able to continue earning money in ways that are the most appropriate for them, with the protection of venues, the law, and the community behind them, We are pleased to see these acknowledged by many councillors in their statements. They will also be able to continue their work to unionise and improve their working conditions on their own terms.
Over 15 councils have imposed nil-cap policies since 2010. Most recently, Edinburgh voted to introduce a nil-cap in April 2022. Bristol rejecting this policy is a victory, but this does not mean the fight for sex workers rights’ throughout the UK is close to being finished. United Sex Workers have recently launched a case for a judicial review regarding Edinburgh City Council’s policy on the grounds that such a policy disproportionately harms women, and this is a case which NUM fully supports. It is vital that all people who believe in the rights of sex workers to work safely and with legal protection remain ready to continue these fights across the UK.
Today, we celebrate this incredible victory. Tomorrow, we keep striving to improve working conditions, legal protections and access to justice for sex workers across the country.
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