San Francisco- A group of exotic dancers sued the company that owns most of San Francisco’s strip clubs Wednesday, claiming they’re not being paid legal wages, some of their tips are confiscated and nonwhite dancers suffer racial discrimination.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court by five past and present employees of the Hungry I in North Beach, one of at least a dozen local clubs owned by Déjà Vu Inc. of Las Vegas. Four of the women used pseudonyms, saying the firm blacklists complainers.

The women said Déjà Vu refused to consider them employees entitled to minimum wages and overtime pay, and instead treated them as independent contractors, even though their working hours and conditions are controlled by the company. They are forced to rely entirely on tips, but the company takes some of the tip money away as “stage fees,” the suit said.

The women also said seven of the clubs require nonwhite dancers to work the day shifts, when the tips are smaller.