Strike Fund: Support Touchstone Climbing Staff
Donation protected
Touchstone Workers United needs your support to win an equitable work contract that makes the gym a safer place for workers and their beloved community. Since September 2024, we've been at bargaining with Touchstone management to draft this contract. The work goes beyond simply higher, livable wages - it's about mutual respect and basic dignity for staff.
On March 22, 2025, SoCal routesetters passed a strike authorization vote. While we are committed to negotiating in good faith and retain hope, we also must prepare for further work stoppages if Touchstone continues to offer unreasonable contract terms.
The most powerful way to show support is by refusing to cross the picket line, by contributing to our strike fund, and sharing our message. This fund will:
- Sustain our bargaining power with Touchstone at the negotiation table
- Provide essential support to staff members during any potential work stoppage
- Our staff lives paycheck to paycheck. When there are work stoppages, the staff bargaining committee constantly plans for and assesses funds to reduce the burden for staff of having to choose between breaking the picket line to pay their basic needs, or continuing to fight for recognition as human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity. Because our staff in SoCal totals about 160 members, even if we raise $50,000, that would mean only about $312.50 per person.
Our primary negotiation goals for this contract are:
- Create a wage structure that honors the skill, experience, and community-building efforts of staff - and create equitable wages without favoritism
- Develop standards to address complaints of sexual harassment, physical safety concerns, and other protective issues
- Empower staff to have their opinions respected by management by setting up a grievance procedure and a joint management-labor committee so employees have an ongoing path to develop their workplace, since they are the ones who are on the floor with the community every day
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. 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 profits continue to rise, and staff wages chase minimum wage.
Competitive wages and a strong benefits package
- retains staff and keeps their knowledge in the community as they continue to build skills
- creates a safer environment for guests and members in a very high risk sport
- allows staff to focus on long-term physical and mental health in this industry, as all jobs at the gyms are physically demanding and require specialized knowledge
If the stoke gods somehow allow us to blast thru and not even need all the money in this fund, we will donate remaining money to other strike funds and list them here.
We love our climbing community, and their support and fire have been heart-warming and delightful to witness. We are so, so appreciative for your solidarity - we can create a new industry standard together!
In solidarity,
Touchstone Workers United
Co-organizers (1)
Jess Kim
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Ceri Godinez
Co-organizer