{"id":3170,"date":"2025-09-17T10:58:51","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T15:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/?p=3170"},"modified":"2026-04-07T10:54:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T15:54:40","slug":"vertical-endeavors-workers-win-first-union-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/2025\/09\/17\/vertical-endeavors-workers-win-first-union-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Vertical Endeavors Workers Win First Union Contract"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Minnesota\u2019s first unionized indoor rock climbing gym secures significant wage increases and benefits<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September 17, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minneapolis \/ St. Paul, MN <\/strong>\u2013 On Thursday, September 11, climbing gym workers at Vertical Endeavors (VE) <\/strong>ratified their first contract with their employer, securing a 3-year agreement and officially joining United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 663 and 1189.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement includes an average of 16.67% wage increases over the life of the contract, paid time off (PTO) for part-timers, and a minimum of 36 scheduled hours per week for full-timers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPTO for part-timers is huge,\u201d said Isaac Harris, a worker from VE in St. Paul. \u201cI am a part-time worker. It used to be difficult to afford to take time off. Because of organizing, and especially because of the gym members that supported us, I can take the time off that I need and still get paid.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe formed our Union because we didn\u2019t want to wait any longer for more pay, or for more respect at work,\u201d said Esthi Erickson, who works at VE Minneapolis. \u201cWe won the improvements we cared about by fighting for them.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Union contract covers 96 workers between climbing gyms in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and Duluth. Workers first organized their Union in August of 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese workers chose to prioritize improvements for everyone, regardless of status, location, or job class, and their solidarity and determination paid off,\u201d said UFCW 1189 President Adam J Evenstad.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re proud to welcome Vertical Endeavors workers into UFCW,\u201d said UFCW 663 President Rena Wong. \u201cWhen we organize, we lift up the standards for all workers in Minnesota because every job should mean dignity, respect, and a voice at work.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

###
The UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.2 million workers and their families in grocery, meatpacking, food processing, healthcare, cannabis, retail, and other essential industries. UFCW members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico. <\/em>ufcw663.org<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>ufcw1189.org<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Vertical Endeavors Workers United Instagram<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Minnesota\u2019s first unionized indoor rock climbing gym secures significant wage increases and benefits FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2025 Minneapolis \/ St. Paul, MN \u2013 On Thursday, September 11, climbing gym workers at Vertical Endeavors (VE) ratified their first contract with their employer, securing a 3-year agreement and officially joining United Food and Commercial Workers … Continue reading Vertical Endeavors Workers Win First Union Contract<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3172,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[62,61,60,59],"tags":[2,375,26,15,80,376,149],"yoast_head":"\nVertical Endeavors Workers Win First Union Contract - UFCW 663<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/2025\/09\/17\/vertical-endeavors-workers-win-first-union-contract\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Vertical Endeavors Workers Win First Union Contract - 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