Climbers Boycott Californian Gyms Over Labour Practices
"As members, we cannot in good conscience continue to support a business that treats its workers — who are also fellow climbers — unfairly..."
A growing number of members, customers, and businesses are boycotting Touchstone Climbing and Fitness facilities across California in response to the corporation’s ongoing unfair labour practices and anti-union activities.
Touchstone Workers United, which represents the Southern California gym workers and is affiliated with Workers United/SEIU, has filed multiple Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the company. The boycott aims to pressure Touchstone management to negotiate in good faith with unionised workers in Southern California and treat its workforce fairly across all locations.
Over the past year, Touchstone management has allegedly engaged in union-busting tactics, refused to negotiate in good faith with union representatives, reduced staff benefits, and increased employee workloads—all while maintaining premium membership prices and pursuing aggressive expansion plans.
“As members, we cannot in good conscience continue to support a business that treats its workers — who are also fellow climbers — unfairly,” said 13-year member Alexis Frasz. “The staff who make our climbing experiences possible deserve respect, fair compensation, and a voice in their workplace.”
The boycott has gained significant momentum in recent weeks with members from all regions suspending or cancelling their memberships. This action follows a week-long Routesetter Strike in Southern California, where workers protested low pay and unsafe working conditions. Boycott organisers have attempted to engage management in dialogue multiple times without satisfactory response, necessitating this escalation.
Boycott participants are demanding specific changes:
1. Good faith negotiations with Touchstone Workers United to reach a fair contract
2. Restoration of staff benefits that have been cut
3. Addressing critical workload and safety concerns
4. Immediate cessation of all union-busting activities
Members participating in the boycott have expressed particular disappointment given the climbing community’s longstanding emphasis on ethics, trust, and mutual support—values they feel Touchstone’s management has abandoned in its treatment of workers.
“We’re not asking for anything unreasonable,” says Vishaal Agartha, former Touchstone member and Bay Area climber. “We simply want Touchstone to demonstrate the same care for their employees that they claim to have for their members.”
As one of the largest climbing gym networks in the world, Touchstone stands at a crucial crossroads—they can either continue to engage in predatory corporate tactics that undermine workers’ rights or set the gold standard for how the rapidly expanding climbing industry treats the very people who make it thrive.
For more information about the boycott or to join the movement, interested climbers can contact: TouchstoneMembersUnited (at) gmail (dot com). Find more information on the fundraising page here, and show your support by signing the online petition “Mandate Living Wages for All Touchstone Employees Before Further Expansion” here.
About the Touchstone Member Boycott: The Touchstone Member Boycott is a grassroots consumer action organized by concerned gym members in support of fair labor practices and workers’ rights. The group formed in response to documented unfair labor practices at Touchstone climbing facilities throughout California.
This information is from a press release dated April 6, 2025.
