Pahrump brothel workers seek union vote at Sheri’s Ranch

Brothel workers at Sheri’s Ranch in Pahrump have asked for a union vote that could ripple beyond Nye County and into every legal brothel in Nevada. The petition, filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Feb. 6 and still listed as open and blocked, seeks representation for 74 full-time, part-time and on-call courtesans at one of the state’s oldest brothels.

The organizing drive, known as United Brothel Workers and backed by Communications Workers of America Local 9413, grew out of a new independent-contractor agreement issued in December 2025. Workers say the contract would give Sheri’s Ranch perpetual rights over their names, likenesses, photos and creative work, even after they leave. They also raised concerns about power of attorney language, pay splits, dress codes and who controls their branding and online content.

Organizers say a majority of the ranch’s 74 courtesans signed the petition. Workers publicly tied to the campaign include Jupiter Jetson, Molly Wylder, Adalind Gray and Paloma Karr. Organizers also say at least three workers connected to the effort were fired after the drive began, turning the dispute into a broader test of how far management can go when workers try to organize inside Nevada’s legal sex work industry.

Sheri’s Ranch has said it respects workers’ right to express views on workplace structure and that its focus is to provide a safe, lawful and professionally managed environment, while maintaining that courtesans are independent contractors. That classification question sits at the center of the case. If workers are ultimately found to be employees, not contractors, they could become the first unionized brothel workers in the United States and the only unionized brothel workforce in the country.

For Nye County, the stakes go beyond one ranch in Pahrump. Nevada remains the only state where prostitution is legal in licensed brothels, and state law allows brothels in 10 rural counties, not Clark County. A successful vote could pressure county officials and state regulators to revisit rules that govern safety, scheduling and grievance procedures in an industry that still operates under regulations designed for a much older labor model. The outcome at Sheri’s Ranch may become the template for how Nevada’s licensed brothels handle worker protections from here on out.