Touchstone Climbing employees who say they’re underpaid and lacking in adequate security won an election to unionize all five of the company’s Southern California climbing gyms.
Employees this week said their ballot count was recognized by the National Labor Relations Board, clearing the way for them to form a bargaining committee for labor negotiations as the certification process for Touchstone Workers United continues.
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The five climbing gyms include The Post in Pasadena, Hollywood Boulders in Hollywood, Verdigo Boulders in Burbank, Cliffs of ID in Culver City and LA Boulders in downtown Los Angeles.
Touchstone operates a total of 16 gyms, including 11 more in the Bay Area.
Jordan Mueck, a senior staff member at the Hollywood Boulders location, said Touchstone employees are hoping labor negotiations will result in higher wages. Raises are necessary, he said, to help keep pace with Southern California’s high housing costs and unexpected expenses, medical or otherwise.
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“LA is really expensive,” he said. “Most of our employees are making under $20 an hour and living paycheck to paycheck. And with life, anything can change very quickly.”
After the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns eased, Touchstone employees saw their work hours reduced.
“They halved our hours,” Mueck said. “This was post-lockdown, and it happened with just a day’s notice. When we asked if we could get hazard pay they got angry, and our gym managers said, ‘It doesn’t matter – you can work your hours. And if you get sick that’s your problem.’ “
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In an email sent Thursday, Touchstone management declined to address the employees’ concerns.
“The NLRB has yet to certify the results of the union election,” the company said. “We have no comment at this time.”
Touchstone employees at the Hollywood location also faced potential violence when a member allegedly sent a text message in October indicating he would come to the gym with a loaded gun. The man has since been barred from the gym.
“His threats spoke to wanting to commit gun violence,” Touchstone employee Jess Kim said. “That was scary. They brought in security for all of the locations, but that was only for a couple weeks. We no longer have that.”
Kim, who earns $22 an hour, said staff is also looking for pay equity, as some employees earn more than others who have the same level of experience and do the same job.
“It seems that some get paid more, and some less,” the 30-year-old LA resident said. “We’re just trying to be compliant with labor law on wage equity. Other climbing gyms in New York have unionized, and they have the next three years of wage increases laid out.”
Mueck said there’s a definite disconnect between employees and management — something he’s hoping to resolve.
“We don’t hate the company,” he said. “We love rocking climbing and seeing members grow. At the end of the day, I don’t want this to feel like this is us versus management. We want our gyms to be the great place we know they can be.”
Founded in 1994 by Mark and Debra Melvin, Touchstone’s first location opened in San Francisco as Missions Cliffs. More gyms were later opened in the Bay Area before the company expanded to Southern California in 2013 with LA Boulders in Los Angeles.
Touchstone Climbing employees who say they’re underpaid and lacking in adequate security won an election to unionize all five of the company’s Southern California climbing gyms. (Photo courtesy of Touchstone employees)
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