Climbing unions urge North Face to cut gym ties over labour
A US labour union is pressuring The North Face and USA Climbing to sever ties with non-compliant gym chains by invoking the International Olympic Committee’s human rights framework.
Workers United, representing over 1,200 staff at 30 unionized US climbing gyms, has demanded that The North Face cut ties with the Movement gym chain ahead of its "Global Climbing Day" on July 18. The union's international president, Lynne Fox, also called on USA Climbing to require partner facilities to uphold collective bargaining rights as a condition for hosting future competitions.
To bolster its case, the union cited the International Olympic Committee’s Strategic Framework on Human Rights and the Olympic Charter. Fox argued these documents "mandate respect for internationally recognized labour rights," adding that such standards are "fundamental to the integrity and the legitimacy of any sport that participates in the Olympic movement."
USA Climbing CEO Marc Norman has refused to intervene. In a letter to the union, Norman stated the governing body maintains a policy of "strict neutrality" and takes an impartial position regarding labour negotiations at independent partner businesses. The organisation will continue using Movement and Touchstone gyms for competitions, with Norman noting its primary focus must remain on athlete safety and technical specifications.
The gym operators, meanwhile, reject accusations of bad-faith bargaining. Movement’s Chief Marketing Officer, Charlotte Bosley, stated the company is "meaningfully engaging at each negotiation table," with the most recent session held on June 10. Touchstone attributed its delays to an "open dispute" over whether its Bay Area unions will bargain as a single unit or multiple units, an issue it says is currently under appeal.
The pressure campaign reflects a rapid escalation of labour organisation in the US indoor climbing sector. The number of unionized gyms has doubled from 18 to 36 in the past two years, accompanied by the first routesetter strike and multiple Unfair Labor Practice charges. While VITAL and Vertical Endeavors have signed new contracts boosting compensation and benefits, unions at larger chains like Movement and Touchstone have yet to secure agreements.
Underlying the dispute is a structural tension between part-time scheduling models and the cost of living in major urban centres. Alex Lin, a bargaining committee member and coach at Movement San Francisco, earns $25.50 per hour but is capped at 30 hours a week. With San Francisco’s living wage estimated at $32.44 per hour for a single adult, Lin said he had to move back in with his parents at age 36 to afford to keep his job.
