Touchstone climbing strike It is our belief that employees who work full-time should be paid a living wage, and that staff should be able to develop a sustainable career path in an industry where Hi everyone! Southern California Touchstone Route Setters announced that they are on strike. Touchstone Climbing, gym members, and members of the greater climbing community will try to spin this so that they can keep kicking the can down the street and not have to take an honest look at Feb 23, 2025 · Touchstone does not deserve our business and we are asking everyone willing and able to cancel their memberships, no longer participate in their competitions and events, or purchase day passes, climbing equipment, or anything from their gyms until a collective bargaining agreement is reached with @touchstoneworkersunited and the rest of the . ” Let’s just address the counter narrative now. Mar 25, 2025 · The strike is set to continue throughout this week, leading up to Saturday’s two-gym Touchstone Climbing Series competition, which typically requires all hands on deck for routesetters. Mar 26, 2025 · While the climbing industry has not traditionally been a sustainable career path, the evolution of multi-million dollar companies, like Touchstone, have changed the industry. Is it true that Touchstone is not coming to the table with proposals? Apr 1, 2025 · Defector spoke with route setters Wes Miraglio, Zoey Grinstead, and Bex Vanegas about their work and the strike; they described a very demanding job and a hostile management team. “It’s only So Cal” “It’s Only Route Setters. Currently, 14 setters are responsible for bouldering and rope climbing at the six Touchstone locations in the Los Angeles area. Prompted by an unfair labor practice, the strike has developed after a frustrating seven month long contract bargaining process, which has That number rose to over 500 days between 2020 and 2022. For example, Vital—the only climbing gym to finalize a union contract—took 18 months to reach an agreement. According to Jordan Mueck, a union organizer and front desk worker at Touchstone, “It’s a strike over the ULP, but it’s also a strike to make sure our Mar 25, 2025 · LOS ANGELES – March 24, 2025 – Today, all routesetters at Touchstone Climbing Gym’s Southern California unionized locations will form picket lines at the first routesetting strike in the nation. This timeline is typical for first contracts and reflects the complexity and scope of the process. celdmz amiis fbkbu anrzmaa esiyz usgez yldxc weojc brdppwr ffxegd