Employees of Vertical Endeavors climbing gyms throughout Minnesota have voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers, making them the first climbing gym workers to unionize in the state.
According to Pioneer Press in St. Paul, the election took place by mail ballot beginning Nov. 13, and results were counted Wednesday, with more than 81 percent of employees agreeing to join UCFW Local 663 and 1189.
Hailey Jarmon, a team coach at the Vertical Endeavors locations in Bloomington, said in a written statement that workers look forward to a bargaining contract that offers “better pay and healthcare, and a voice in the decisions that are going to affect employees and customers.”
In addition to Bloomington, Vertical Endeavors gyms are located in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth. A Pioneer Press call to the company for comment was not returned Wednesday.
The new bargaining unit will cover about 90 people, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers, including most employees who are not shift managers or guards.
A filing of intent to unionize in August included employees of Nicros, a St. Paul -based manufacturer of custom climbing systems, walls and holds. The union said those workers now plan to file as a separate bargaining unit.
