Rejoice in a monumental victory for the climbing community! 4 Bay Area Touchstone gyms have won their Union vote. In solidarity and in celebration of this victory we are calling a temporary end to the Touchstone Boycott so those that have boycotted in good faith can experience the joys of being members and climbing at a union gym for the first time. Go congratulate their hard work and bravery: Mission Cliffs and Dog Patch in San Francisco, The Studio in San Jose, and Diablo Rock Gym in Concord. 

For those patrons that return to Touchstone during this time, remember that Class 5 in Torrence, Hyperion in Redwood City, The Oaks, Iron Works, and the Training Center in Berkeley, Pacific Pipe and Great Western Power Company in Oakland,  Metal Mark in Fresno, and Pipe Works in Sacramento are still not unionized. We encourage you to continue to keep boycotting and protesting against these gyms, but if you do decide to attend we ask that you continue to push for unionizing, help spread awareness of the larger climbing community labor effort, and organize action in solidarity with the national Climbing Workers Union, Touchstone Workers United, and the many many workers that are not protected and represented that still work at Touchstone.

Obviously this victory still falls short of our hope and goal of a dignified living wage for all Touchstone employees, but it signifies a major victory and a major turning point in the fight for fairness and justice in our community. Many of us will continue to boycott as long as there are any non-union Touchstone gyms. We will send out a call for a general boycott again if Touchstone continues to negotiate in bad faith, and if Touchstone Workers United calls for a General Strike and Boycott. Please continue to stay involved and take action to achieve a fair wage for all Touchstone employees and even more broadly, for all climbing workers in this industry. May all workers in all industries know fairness, dignity, and freedom from exploitation.

With Sincere Gratitude and Solidarity,
Morgan McGehee

This message is dedicated to the life and memory of Charlie Kirk. Martyred in the pursuit of spreading non-violent debate, disagreement, and conflict. May we seek to love one another, even our adversaries.