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Group Fitness Instructors UnitedWe are more than "just group fitness instructors," and it's time for us to acknowledge that our under-regulated industry has taken advantage of us. change lives. We power an industry with our own bodies. We literally and figuratively touch the bodies of others. And, as one GFI said, "We spend more hours off the clock than on."
We aren't traditional employees. We aren't gig workers. We're Group Fitness Instructors. We deserve to be organized, recognized, and benefited. We deserve to work in an industry that is equitable and accountable. Becoming part of GFI United is a step toward becoming a federally-licensed professional who receives adequate pay, proper and affordable certification, and employment benefits. It might not happen tomorrow; it might not happen next year; but it WILL happen, and we need your support to rally our leaders and galvanize our fellow GFIs. |
No matter if you teach one class a week or 40 classes a week, you deserve to be acknowledged, respected, and compensated for your demonstrated commitment to health: the health of your students, your fellow GFI's, and your industry!
The Mission of GFIU is to advocate for and protect the work-life rights of non-managerial group fitness instructors. Things like health insurance, PTO, sick leave, hours, vacation time, standardized contracts, transportation stipends, hour guarantees, adequate pay, and more.
The Mission of GFIU is to advocate for and protect the work-life rights of non-managerial group fitness instructors. Things like health insurance, PTO, sick leave, hours, vacation time, standardized contracts, transportation stipends, hour guarantees, adequate pay, and more.
Our Mission
Eventually, we will tackle one very fickle aspect of our industry: the fact that we have to pay for our own certificates, permits, licenses, etc. And often times we pay our own employers for those certificates! We're basically paying our employers to give us a job. That's nonsensical and it's just not okay.
While the economic earnings in our industry balloon, our wages and employment rights shrink. We're privy to the whims of group fitness coordinators who hire, fire, reorganize, and reschedule on a whim.
Through online and in-person dialogue, GFIU will define our needs and ask for them to be represented by IAM 751 (our local Machinists Union). By building awareness, advocating for our legal needs, and bargaining as a coalition, we ensure the viability of our profession for ourselves and future instructors.
While the economic earnings in our industry balloon, our wages and employment rights shrink. We're privy to the whims of group fitness coordinators who hire, fire, reorganize, and reschedule on a whim.
Through online and in-person dialogue, GFIU will define our needs and ask for them to be represented by IAM 751 (our local Machinists Union). By building awareness, advocating for our legal needs, and bargaining as a coalition, we ensure the viability of our profession for ourselves and future instructors.
Our Tax Status
We're a 501(c)4 not-for-profit advocacy organization, AKA an "action organization." Eventually, we'll be a 501(c)5 Union, AKA a coalition/ guild/ association.
But why are we telling you this? Because GFIs and fitness facilities have been duped for years by organizations with enough marketing to make themselves seem important and authoritative. They've told us that we need to pay for our membership but have provided us with zero typical membership benefits, like conferences, job-finding assistance, and a vote in how the organization moves forward. These organizations aren't federally accredited, so the endorsements they give are based on subjective variables (like their sponsors' money). We are committed to transparency and democracy. And until we're a legal 501(c)5 Union, you won't have to pay a dime to partake in our activities and receive everything we can give you. Why? The Machinists Union supports us! Read more about IAM 751 below.
But why are we telling you this? Because GFIs and fitness facilities have been duped for years by organizations with enough marketing to make themselves seem important and authoritative. They've told us that we need to pay for our membership but have provided us with zero typical membership benefits, like conferences, job-finding assistance, and a vote in how the organization moves forward. These organizations aren't federally accredited, so the endorsements they give are based on subjective variables (like their sponsors' money). We are committed to transparency and democracy. And until we're a legal 501(c)5 Union, you won't have to pay a dime to partake in our activities and receive everything we can give you. Why? The Machinists Union supports us! Read more about IAM 751 below.
Machinists Union 751There is no more appropriate Union for Group Fitness Instructors than the Machinists. After all, we're using our bodies as the machine to power the fitness industry! IAM 751 has shown incredible vision, dedication, and courage in uniting with Group Fitness Instructors. Learn more about the Machinists legacy by visiting their site.
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The Most Modern Union
Traditionally, Unions represent employees from a single employer in a certain district. For example, aerospace engineers at Boeing in Redmond, WA; yoga instructors at Yoga Works in New York. Then, non-W2 workers began to unionize: independent lobster fisherman in Maine (they created a co-op, too); self-employed truck drivers in Washington; and "gig" working Uber drivers across the country. Still, our group presents one of the most complex legal situations for organization yet. Here's why.
Employment
Since it's highly unlikely that any one gym can employ a fitness instructor full-time, or even give an instructor enough classes to make their certificate worthwhile, most instructors teach in a variety of locations. They may be 1099 in one place, W2 in another, and even accept cash payments as a sole proprietor in other locations. This variety of employment means we don't qualify for typical employment benefits. And we're trying to negotiate, manage, and maintain different, confusing contracts at every location where we teach. That's one reason we're advocating for standard contracts.
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Certification
We like to say that the group fitness industry is carnivorous: our employers require us to have "certificates" to teach classes. And, often, those are the same employers who issue the certificates. Then, they're expected to teach for free or lower wages until "they get their hours in." This means instructors are paying for their own jobs, and often paying their own employers. Instructors can pay thousands of dollars for their certificate to teach, but there's no true oversight on the quality, validity, or effectiveness of these certificates. That is why we're advocating for a single group fitness certificate.
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Benefits
School teachers don't get paid separate rates for their planning time. Truck drivers don't get paid separate rates for the time the spend driving versus waiting in the loading dock. Group fitness instructors should be paid adequately for the hours associated with our unique jobs: transit, planning, teaching, greeting. We should receive pay that matches the current cost of living and that is appropriate to our skills set. We shouldn't have to pay out-of-pocket for our certificates, our music, or licenses, and other associated costs. That's why we're advocating for a basic benefits and protections.
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The realityBeing a professional or semi-professional group fitness instructor is not a hobby; it's feeding a booming industry and feeding the mouths of many individuals and families. Here are some of the states we've collected.
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1/3 to 1/2unpaid portion of their total working time
6 out of 10out of 10 Group Fitness Instructors have
earn their living off group fitness classes 54%of instructors work in spaces with
adequate health & safety standards |
The Organizer
Emily Stewart
Like many Group Fitness Instructors, Emily never planned on making "fittainment" her job. She began teaching yoga in England with nary a certificate to her name-- she just couldn't find a class she liked. When 40 people showed up to her first class, and she walked with over 100 British Pound Sterling from the jar she asked people to pay 2 BPS into, she had the bug. After teaching in Europe for years, she's increasingly frustrated by how few protections and allowances "her people" are given. Emily is a Grade-A galvanizer.
Can't find what you're looking for? Here's all the links, in one place:
Seattle, King County Washington Call Emily: (206) 488-5563
