Three Reasons (Out of One Million Gajillion) Why We Need More Unionized Climbing Gyms

Cover Image: Cartoon published in the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) journal Solidarity on June 30, 1917.

On April 11, 2022, the employees at the Movement Climbing Gym in so-called Crystal City, Virginia successfully created the first unionized climbing gym in the so-called U.S.

I can only imagine the extreme effort, patience, resilience, emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual energy this process took and I’m so grateful that these employees are a beautiful example of what’s possible when it comes to labor rights, which are human rights.

As someone who worked at a climbing gym in so-called Portland, Oregon, formerly known as Planet Granite – now also under the Movement network – I know the exploitation and inequitable compensation that happens behind the front desk all too well (Taylor’s version).

Now, I live in so-called St. Louis, Missouri, the traditional territories of the Oceti Sakowin, Osage, and Miami peoples, and I climb at Upper Limits.

After a few years of speaking with gym employees at Upper Limits most of whom are paid $11-$13,  it comes as no surprise that they’re just as disposable as we were at Planet Granite. Underpaying employees and working “for the love of climbing” is the “industry norm” and it has to change.

3 reasons out of one million gajillion why we need more unionized climbing gyms:

1.Your financial, physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual health matters.

In this capitalist system you need to be equitably compensated for your input at your job. We need to unlearn the idea of “labor of love” when it comes to working for corporations and bosses who are making excess profits, and benefitting exponentially at the expense of your long-term wellbeing. You deserve a living, or rather thriving, wage no matter your race, class, gender, sexuality, age, etc.

2. Your voice matters.

If you are burnt-out, exhausted, not getting paid breaks and paid time off, if you don’t even have a break room in the gym to retreat to, if you are experiencing cissexism, misogynoir, anti-Blackness, etc. at your workplace this is going to be a huge detriment to your overall energy, health, and well-being. Unions are powerful, collective forces that allow you and your fellow employees to communicate to management your dissatisfaction and the things you want to see changed.

3. You are a human not a machine.

Capitalism conditions us to believe that what we’re experiencing at work is “normal.” We are taught to accept what we’re given, not “demand” anything more, and not expect “special treatment.” If you hold oppressed identities, you are forced and coerced to bypass your valid, human needs and desires even more.

And for those who are impacted the least by systems of oppression within climbing gyms – we’re looking at you cis white men – it’s crucial that you advocate for unions and center the most marginalized folks in your gym. I hear way too many cis white dudes say, “Well, it doesn’t affect me, so why would I care?” If this is something you’ve said or thought, just know that you’re a gigantic, dumpster fire roadblock on the path to justice, equity, and freedom for all.

Just because something is the way it is, and always has been, doesn’t mean it has to continue. And it doesn’t mean it’s okay, or humane, or right, or acceptable.

It’s not okay, not humane, and not acceptable to be paid anything less than a living, thriving, dare I say, MAXIMUM WAGE. It’s important that we unlearn and start noticing the ways in which we normalize exploitative and abusive behaviors, patterns, and policies in our climbing gyms (and workplaces in general).

Feeling safe at your workplace to express your concerns and dissatisfaction should be and can be the norm.

We’re currently working on a larger piece and podcast episode about the structure of climbing gyms and treatment of climbing gym employees.

If you have worked or currently work at a climbing gym and you’d like to be interviewed and contribute your voice and experience (anonymously or not) please send us an email at helloterraincognita@gmail.com.