LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Licensed sex workers at one of Nye County’s most popular brothels are forming a union, a first in history for the industry.
“It feels like it’s part of the American labor story,” Molly Wilder said. “In a way, sex workers have never done it before.”
Wilder was one of several people interviewed by 8 News Now about the first sex worker event at Sheri’s Ranch in Pahrump.
“When they asked us if we wanted to work together to do this,” Jupiter Jetson said. “We all said yes.”
Wilder and Jetson were both licensed prostitutes and independent contractors at Shirley Ranch until Jetson was recently fired, she said.
Licensed sex workers at one of Nye County’s most popular brothels are forming a union, a first in the industry’s history. (Klass)
They both spoke to 8 News Now on Friday about their roles in forming the United Brothel Workers union within the Communications Workers of America.
“This isn’t necessarily a union movement,” Jetson explained. “This is just a campaign not to abide by an extremely exploitative contract.”
They say Sheri’s Ranch management asked them to sign a new independent contractor agreement in December that would give the brothel control of its intellectual property and power of attorney.
Both women explained the damage this can cause, as many licensed prostitutes also work in the adult film industry and monetize their content on social media.
“I personally am an adult actress, but I’m also a musician, I’m a writer, and I’m currently writing a book before this started,” Jetson said. “My book is so relevant in content and subject matter to the ranch that they will completely own it.”
“My video will be theirs,” Jetson added. “Whether I have the right or not.”
Wilder also spoke of her concerns about a future outside of sex work.
“I’m concerned about my future,” she said. “I don’t know what will be important to me ten years from now.”
Under state law, Nevada is the only state in the union where people can legally solicit prostitution in certain rural counties with a population of fewer than 700,000.
Six of the state’s 17 counties currently have active brothels, including Nye County.
To form a union, a licensed prostitute or sex worker must prove to the union that they are employees and not independent contractors, which is their current status.
According to Jetson and Wilder, most of the 74 prostitutes working at Shirley Ranch agreed to join the United Brothel Workers Union.
They added that this would provide stronger protection for their rights, safety and security.
Lawyers for the CWA filed a union petition with the National Labor Relations Board this week and issued an injunction over the brothel’s recent firing of several prostitutes.
8 News Now contacted Sheri’s Ranch and received the following statement:
“For more than fifty years, Sheri’s Ranch has been a legal part of Nevada’s licensed brothel system, supporting generations of independent businesswomen who contribute to the local economy and surrounding communities. During that time, the resort has operated in compliance with state and county regulations and has protocols and standards in place designed to support the integrity of the brand and the well-being of independent contractors who choose to operate their businesses in partnership with the ranch.
We respect the right of individuals to express their views on the structure of the workplace. At the same time, Sheri’s Ranch remains confident in the long-standing legal and regulatory framework that has supported independent contractors operating their own businesses in partnership with the resort for decades. This model, which has previously faced legal scrutiny, created stability, opportunity and autonomy for generations of women and continues to guide how the ranch operates today.
Our focus remains the same: to provide a safe, legal and professionally managed environment where independent contractors can work, serve customers and achieve their own success while working under the Sheri’s Ranch roof and brand.
Independent contractor status has long been the industry standard and remains the foundation for the industry’s autonomy for decades. It allows individuals to run their own business, set their own schedule, choose their own clients, define their personal and professional boundaries, and make independent decisions about the services they provide and the fees they charge for those services. It also allows individuals to maintain direct control over personal choices, boundaries and bodies within the scope of their work.
It is important to recognize that any transition away from independent contractor status fundamentally changes the nature of that independence and the degree of control an individual has over how they perform their work. “
-Jeremy Lemur, Director of Communications
However, Jason and Wild told 8 News Now the situation was the push they needed to start a new chapter.
“I’ve been putting up with tip theft and wage theft for eight years and never really made a fuss about it,” Jetson said. “Wanting my intellectual property was just a bridge too far.”
“It would be nice if I could talk directly to every sex worker,” she concluded. “It’s going to be, ‘You’re not the exception, you’re the rule, and you should have the same rights as everyone else.’
Currently, prostitutes working at Sheri’s Ranch are the only ones behind the union movement, but the two women told 8 News Now they hope the movement will expand to prostitutes working at other brothels across the state.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, head to KLAS.