Aspiring Student Journalist is Published in Queens Ledger

Ruby K. is a high school junior at The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Astoria. Combining her passions for rock climbing and journalism, Ruby’s summer job at local media outlet Queens Ledger led to her reporting on a climbing gym’s union advocacy efforts.

By Ruby K.
Photo by Office of NYC Council Member Shahana Hanif
Originally published in Queens Ledger on July 17, 2025

Workers at Gowanus Climbing Gym Rally for Health and Safety Committee

Earlier last week, workers at a climbing gym in Gowanus organized an event to promote a health and safety committee for their union. Staff from multiple locations, union workers, and climbers wore red to show their support for the union.

Movement Gym workers at LIC and Gowanus locations have been unionized for almost a year — and now, they are fighting for a health and safety committee. Their unionization was initially sparked by the buyout of these locations by Movement. Two years ago, The Cliffs, a smaller franchise of climbing gyms, operated gyms in LIC, Gowanus, Harlem, Valhalla and one in Callowhill, Philadelphia. In late 2023 all five gyms were bought out and rebranded as Movement Gyms. This sudden change in management caused concern among the gym workers and talk of unionization grew.

Movement Union workers want to build a safer community not only for themselves but the climbing community that occupy these gyms. City Councilwoman Shahana Hanif made an appearance at the event and demonstrated her support and admiration for the union. She expressed concern about the climbing ropes, equipment failure and lack of accountability of Movement management. She ended with a quick remark directed towards management: “They have been stalling, and it seems like they know how unions bust,” said Hanif, “but we know how to organize.”