Two years after voting to unionize, employees at Movement's Callowhill climbing gym say they are still working without a contract and that talks have slowed to a crawl. Staffers describe perks getting cut, scheduling rules getting tighter and turnover so constant that only a few of the original organizers are still on the job. Union leaders say they are gearing up for more customer outreach and other pressure tactics, and they are not ruling out a work stoppage if bargaining continues to stall.
Union vote and takeover set stage
The Callowhill crew voted to unionize in December 2023, shortly after Movement took over the location from The Cliffs in November 2023, a shift that local outlets documented. Organizers and employees say negotiations over pay, benefits and safety have moved slowly, and that several perks they were told to expect disappeared after the sale, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
What workers say is at stake
Staff say a free membership, typically worth a monthly fee plus an initiation charge, is a big reason people stay despite modest wages and thin hours that make long-term careers rare. Workers told The Denver Post that entry-level front desk jobs in Philadelphia were being offered at about $13.50 an hour, and that they must lock in their availability weeks in advance while managers release final schedules later. That mismatch, they argue, makes it hard to pick up other work, feeds burnout and pushes people to quit.
Company response and legal filings
Across Movement locations nationwide, employees say they filed unfair labor practice charges after an October meeting in Colorado where, according to the union, management kept out union representatives. The filing accuses company leaders of having “interfered with, restrained and coerced employees,” according to The Denver Post. The union has posted the complaint, along with a companion campaign site, at Climbing Workers United. Movement, for its part, told reporters that it is participating fully through the legal process and remains committed to bargaining in good faith, a company statement reported by Billy Penn.
Industry context: a few first contracts
The Callowhill clash is part of a broader trend. Climbing gym workers around the country have secured union recognition at several facilities, but only a few first contracts have actually been signed. At VITAL climbing gyms in Manhattan and Brooklyn, workers say two contracts were ratified in 2024, according to Climbers United (VITAL). A separate three-year agreement covering 96 workers at four Vertical Endeavors gyms in Minnesota was approved last September, according to UFCW Local 663. Organizers say those wins show what is possible, but that locking in steady raises and clear safety standards still takes persistent pressure at the table.
For now, Callowhill workers say bargaining is technically ongoing and that regulars should expect to hear more from them as they try to turn a union vote into concrete improvements. If talks remain stuck, organizers say coordinated customer actions and a targeted work stoppage are very much in play.
