Fitness Instructors Advocacy

Group Fitness Instructor: A person leading movement (expressed in many different forms) for a group of people, all moving together, to help enhance individual knowledge and skill-set within that form of movement while receiving the physical and mental benefits of that practice. (Special thanks to Amber for communicating this!)
Benefits Acronyms: Paid time off = PTO; sick leave = SSL; vacation time = vacay; retirement fund = 401(k)
Instruction space: Any organized provider of fitness classes and thereby requestor of instructors. This includes:
-corporate gyms and studios (24 Hour Fitness, Lifetime, Gold's Gym, etc.)
-"mom-n-pop" gyms and studios with one or more locations (Breathe Hot Yoga, Hot Yoga Inc., Experience Momentum)
-franchise gyms and studios (Soul Cycle, Club Pilates, Orange Theory Fitness, Corepower Yoga, etc.)
-professional organizations that contract fitness instructors on their premises (corporations, housing complexes, private parties, etc.)
-any other public entity that contracts a group fitness instructor to achieve an economic, marketing, advertising, or other publicizing end (if you earn from them, they need to earn from you)
Employment types:
-"W2" refers to employees who are legally "regular" employees working at least Part-Time hours. Their employers are supposed to withhold portions of their paychecks for state taxes and benefits like sick leave and paid time off, although group fitness instructors may not work enough hours to enjoy those benefits. W2 are the tax forms these employees receive.
-"1099" and "contract" workers refer to group fitness instructors who contract, formally or informally, to teach classes for employers who do not offer them benefits or protections. These workers are expected (possibly without being told) to pay their own state and federal taxes quarterly.
Fair: Fair does not refer only to group fitness instructors vantage point, but reflects upon the industry as a whole. We do not endeavor to make instruction spaces suffer. The following mandates protect both instructors and spaces from wage abuses; costly and timely negotiations; ineffective and unsafe group fitness instruction; improper employment practices; and a carnivorous, monopolistic, abusive industry.

All group fitness instructors will receive minimum and fair wages. As such:

Instructors and instruction spaces will negotiate contracts with the Union, not each other. An instruction will receive the same pay rate and employment structure at every instruction space.
Instructors will be contracted for a certain class(es) for a set and guaranteed period of time at a set and guaranteed rate. After which the instructor is eligible for a raise or bonus, or the class may be changed/ dropped.
Raises and bonuses will happen proactively annually, so as to meet inflation.
All rates of pay, including performance-based raises and bonuses, will follow regulations and guidelines set forth by GFIU and legal fair wage standards.
Each class will count for 3 hours or work. That means the wage will reflect the actual time spent teaching and planning.

All group fitness instructors will be required to certify in a state-mandated Group Fitness Instructors Certification Course. This generalized course will use the newest and most trustworthy science to teach instructors in-depth foundations for safe and effective fitness classes in any format. It will include CPR/ AED; injury care; trauma re-activeness; self protection; and psychological calming techniques. The certificate will be affordable. Moreover, it will be paid for either by: the state; the Union; or the gym/ studio/ instruction space that has requested instruction. Those certified will be required to take a shorter renewal course every 2 years. Instructors are then encouraged to further certify in specific modalities. As such:

Certificate cost will be limited in price and scope. Once certified in a specific modality, an instructor will not "intern" or "apprentice" for lesser pay. Hourly teaching "practices" and "observations" will follow Union regulations, including pay requirements.
If an instruction space has requested an instructor certify, that space will pay for the certificate fee. If an instructor applies independently for a certificate, they will be sponsored on a scholarship or full tuition by the Union.
Certificates will not require inordinate and constant "re-education" or "continued education." If additional skills are required for effective instruction, those courses will be covered by the instruction space and/or Union sponsored.

All group fitness instructors will receive the following benefits. These benefits will be provided by the Union, not the instruction spaces. These benefits will be provided to all instructors, irregardless of the number of classes taught. Benefits are:

Affordable health insurance and healthcare allocations; sick leave; paid time off; vacation time; 401(k) retirement fund; state and federal taxes paid; childcare assistance; maternity leave.

When an instructor uses these benefits, whether in sickness or leisure, they will not be expected to find their own substitute instructor. The responsibility to find a sub will be coordinated by the instructor's Union representative, who will coordinate with the gym and the Union. In the case of a "leisure" sub request, an instructor will follow standards of timeliness and will use their benefits appropriately. Requests are managed by the Union, not instruction spaces. An instructor will not be terminated for time off requests unless they clearly violate Union mandates.

Advocacy

Definitions

Wage Standards

Fair Certification

Union Benefits

Help us understand your teaching situation!

Can't find what you're looking for? Here's all the links, in one place: