First Ascent Climbing Gyms in Chicago Announce Intent to Unionize with CMRJB Workers United
Chicago, IL – Climbing Gym workers and professionals at First Ascent climbing gyms locations in Avondale, Uptown, Block 37, and Humboldt Park announced their intent to unionize with the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United. On Wednesday, February 5th, a group of workers delivered their letter of intent to a gym manager, asking the ownership and management to voluntarily recognize the union by Friday, February 7th.
This is the culmination of over a year of organizing work at these locations. Fauna Stumpf, a worker at the Uptown gym who has helped lead the organizing effort, shared that “we’ve been working hard to preserve the community we love” after delivering the letter to management.
Farbota, another worker leader from the Avondale location, shares that working at First Ascent for the past three years “has deepened my connection to the sport and the people, but it’s also given me perspective on how the company could do better.” Workers are asking for better pay and safer working conditions, with Farbota saying “I want to help establish practices that offer the staff security and financial sustainability so we can bring our best to the community we care about.”
Climbing gyms as an industry have grown rapidly in recent years, and with that more workers are demanding wages and benefits that reflect these growing profits. In addition, there are few safety standards guaranteed in climbing gyms, and workers often perform dangerous jobs like route setting where they face the risk of serious injuries.
First Ascent workers join a growing number of unionized climbing gyms nationwide, including Movement gyms in Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville who are also represented by the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United. “We are excited to have Chicago workers be at the forefront in the fight for safety and better working conditions at climbing gyms nationwide,” noted Kathy Hanshew, International Vice President of Workers United.
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