Key Takeaways
- The number of unionized U.S. climbing gyms has doubled from 18 to 36 in two years, with 5 Vertical Endeavors and 4 VITAL locations securing improved wages, paid time off, and benefits.
- Activists are targeting the country’s largest gym operators—Movement and Touchstone—through strikes, “practice pickets,” and petitions demanding living wages.
- Workers United has asked USA Climbing and The North Face to make collective‑bargaining compliance a condition for hosting events and competitions.
- USA Climbing’s CEO Marc Norman reaffirmed a policy of strict neutrality, refusing to intervene in private labor disputes.
- Employee Alex Lin’s experience illustrates how part‑time caps and low pay force coaches to live with families or in vans despite high living‑costs.
- Legal bottlenecks at the NLRB have stalled many unfair‑labor‑practice cases, extending resolution times to nearly two years.
- Upcoming demonstrations at North Face stores aim to pressure the brand to sever ties with non‑union gyms.
- The industry may face heightened public scrutiny and potential contractual requirements for future event venues.
Overview of Union Growth
Over the past two years, the landscape of labor representation within the climbing gym sector has shifted dramatically. Where only 18 gyms were unionized at the start of the period, that figure now stands at 36, effectively doubling the early‑year count. This surge includes five facilities under the Vertical Endeavors chain and four under VITAL, each of which has negotiated contracts that enhance paid time off, compensation rates, and health‑benefit provisions. The expansion reflects a growing willingness among employees to organize and leverage collective bargaining to improve workplace conditions across the industry.
Activist Actions at Major Gym Chains
Organizing efforts have intensified at the two biggest gym operators—Movement and Touchstone—both of which now manage nine unionized locations apiece yet have yet to sign formal contracts. The pressure tactics employed include the first-ever routesetter strike, a series of “practice picket” demonstrations, and the filing of numerous Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges. Additionally, a petition signed by more than 2,000 employees and supporters calls for a mandatory living wage floor, underscoring the broader movement to force industry‑wide standards.
Letter to USA Climbing
On May 13, Lynne Fox, International President of Workers United, dispatched a letter to USA Climbing CEO Marc Norman urging the national governing body for competitive climbing to embed collective‑bargaining rights into its event‑hosting criteria. Fox referenced the International Olympic Committee’s Strategic Framework on Human Rights and the Olympic Charter, asserting that participation in the Olympic movement obligates partners to uphold internationally recognized labor standards. She demanded that host gyms provide safe working conditions, equitable scheduling, good‑faith bargaining, and protection against retaliation for union activity.
USSA Climbing’s Neutral Stance
In a July 3 response, Norman confirmed receipt of the letter but reaffirmed USA Climbing’s policy of “strict neutrality” regarding private labor disputes. He emphasized that the organization does not involve itself in the commercial or managerial decisions of independent gyms, focusing instead on athlete safety, technical specifications, and geographic diversity. While acknowledging the essential role of facility staff, Norman declined to alter venue‑selection standards in response to pending NLRB rulings, leaving the organization’s partnerships with Movement and Touchstone unchanged.
Employee Perspective from Movement San Francisco
Alex Lin, a long‑time coach at Movement San Francisco, encapsulates the financial strain faced by many staff members. Despite earning $25.50 per hour—above the $19.61 minimum wage—Lin finds it impossible to afford San Francisco’s soaring rent, which averages $3,764 for a one‑bedroom unit. He currently lives with his parents to subsidize his income, and several coworkers have resorted to van‑living. Lin’s union, certified in January after a unanimous December election, is pushing to eliminate the 30‑hour weekly cap that forces employees to juggle multiple part‑time jobs, and to secure meaningful wage increases beyond nominal cost‑of‑living adjustments.
Current Negotiation Challenges
Ben Bennett, counsel for Workers United, contends that the protracted bargaining periods at Movement and Touchstone are indicative of intentional delay rather than good‑faith negotiation. Legal filings have accumulated 34 ULP charges against Movement and at least 15 against Touchstone, yet resolution has been hampered by a backlog at the National Labor Relations Board. Median processing times have swelled from 134 to 441 days, with additional delays stemming from a 2025 federal hiring freeze and a brief period when the NLRB lacked a quorum. The oldest pending charge against Movement dates back to August 2023, leaving the dispute unresolved after more than two years.
Future Public Pressure Campaigns
While legal remedies remain slow, unionized workers are shifting focus to public‑opinion strategies. A coordinated series of demonstrations is scheduled for July 13 at 10 North Face retail locations across New York, Berkeley, Pennsylvania, and other cities. Activists will urge customers to contact store managers and corporate leadership, demanding that The North Face terminate its partnerships with gyms that fail to meet collective‑bargaining standards. The campaign leverages the brand’s upcoming “Global Climbing Day” event on July 18 as a focal point for the boycott.
Projected Timeline and Industry Implications
The confluence of escalating activism, legislative delays, and heightened public scrutiny suggests that the labor standoff will continue to shape the climbing‑gym industry for the foreseeable future. Absent a decisive intervention from USA Climbing or a swift NLRB ruling, gym operators may face contractual obligations tied to labor compliance when seeking to host future competitions. Moreover, brands like The North Face could be compelled to adopt stricter vendor‑screening policies to align with consumer expectations around workers’ rights. The sector is poised for continued scrutiny, with potential ripple effects extending to sponsorships, event planning, and the broader culture of labor standards in niche sport venues.