A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the owners of the Golden Banana on behalf of exotic dancers who say the club has incorrectly characterized them as independent contractors to avoid paying them wages and overtime.

Instead, the lawsuit alleges, the dancers were actually required to pay the Route 1 club as much as $150 for the privilege of dancing a single shift. And instead of receiving the state-mandated $2.63 per hour for employees who earn tips, the dancers' only source of income was those tips, the suit alleges.

The suit was filed this week in Salem Superior Court.

It's the third such lawsuit filed in Massachusetts over the issue of whether exotic dancers are employees of the establishments or work for themselves.

Earlier this year, a judge sided with the dancers at a Chelsea bar, finding they were essentially employees of the King Arthur's Club in Chelsea and that they were therefore entitled to back wages.

"The companies consider the dancers to be independent contractors, but the judge in the King Arthur's case ruled that they were employees and not independent contractors," said Warren Pyle, one of the lawyers representing the dancers.

(Please click link to read full story)