Ex-Flyers Ice Girl: ‘There Should Be an Ice Girl Union’
Members of the Philadelphia Flyers ice girls clean off the ice during a timeout against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period at the Wells Fargo Center on January 19, 2013. Photo | Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
In a piece about the incredibly low salaries and occasionally ridiculous work environment endured by “ice girls” — women who sweep up ice shavings during stoppages of play at NHL games — a former veteran Flyers ice girl (not pictured) says there should be a union for the workers.
“There should be an ice-girl union to fight for our rights,” she tells Mother Jones. “The girls have never fought for them before.”
The rules the article details are ridiculous, and likely wouldn’t be tolerated at any other division of Comcast except the hockey team it owns. Flyers ice girl members had to stand out in shorts and stockings in 20 degree weather during the Winter Classic. The ice team couldn’t eat in public during the Winter Classic — we wouldn’t want any fans thinking these women are real people! — and has to sneak food even when working long hours.
Oh, and they make about $50 a game for seven hours of work.
Many of the ice girls find it an incredibly rewarding experience, and I know people who have danced or cheered for pro sports teams who reported the same. But, geeze. Pay them more, please, at least.
