Hi everyone!

Southern California Touchstone Route Setters announced that they are on strike.

“It’s only So Cal” “It’s Only Route Setters.” 

Let’s just address the counter narrative now. Touchstone Climbing, gym members, and members of the greater climbing community will try to spin this so that they can keep kicking the can down the street and not have to take an honest look at the series of events that led to this point. Just as they have done with So Cal’s first walk out and boycott after the active shooter threat, the subsequent Unionizing, the petition calling for support for all staff, the most recent boycott as a result of Touchstone’s silence and inaction, and now this strike. These are all solidarity efforts to force Touchstone to change their unfair labor practices and for Touchstone Members and people that partner with Touchstone to look at the company they are supporting in all gyms and in all regions.

So when you encounter these false narratives ask those perpetuating the narrative, what else has to happen before you divest your interest in Touchstone and stand with the workers of Touchstone? These false narratives are the ones being protected and supported by Touchstone. So staff members, gym members, and partners of Touchstone are encouraged to undermine solidarity for workers. “My gym’s employees are happy.” “That’s just a So Cal issue.” “I heard Nor Cal doesn’t want to Unionize.” “The Union said it doesn’t support the boycott.” “Touchstone gives our community a space to gather so we’re staying neutral.”

This affects all of Touchstone. This is not segregated to a region, or a department, or a gym. This is the culture of all of Touchstone. This is why we call for solidarity and unity because Touchstone is only able to continue business as usual if they sew dissent and division.

Stand in solidarity with the Workers that are now on strike! Take action, spread awareness, join the boycott, force Touchstone to finally take responsibility for this culture they have created, and demand change.

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”

-Desmond Tutu-