Park City Mountain Ski Patroller Strike Disrupts Winter Operations

(DailyAnswer.org) – Park City Mountain Resort is facing operational challenges as ski patrollers strike for better wages, affecting holiday visitors.

At a Glance

Park City ski patrollers went on strike December 27, disrupting winter operations.
The strike has led to longer lift lines and slow responses to injuries.
Negotiations continue between Vail Resorts and the ski patrollers’ union.
Community support for the patrollers is strong, with significant local backing.

Strike Begins During Peak Winter Season

Park City Mountain, renowned as one of the largest ski resorts in the U.S., was hit by a ski patroller strike starting December 27. The strike represents the first of its kind during the modern era, coinciding with the ski season’s peak as fresh snow and holiday travelers arrive. Ski patrollers are demanding a $2 hourly wage increase. Normally, the resort employs over 100 ski patrollers, but the workforce dwindled to 30 to 35, leading to longer lift lines and unattended injured skiers.

Union negotiations with Vail Resorts have been ongoing, but agreements remain unfinished, impacting both staff and visitors. Vail Resorts has responded by bringing in non-union managers from other areas, but the strike’s impact remains apparent to visitors. The strike has sparked solidarity rallies among ski patrollers across the West.

Reasons Behind Continuing the Strike:

Vail Resorts' leadership has decided to continue operations despite the strike by the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) because they believe they can maintain mountain operations with non-union ski patrollers and…

— Schimmel (@Schimtastic) January 3, 2025

Wage Disputes and Labor Complaints

The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association, representing 204 members, argues for a $23 starting hourly wage, aligning with inflation adjustments. The association has lodged several unfair labor practice complaints against Vail Resorts, accusing them of bad faith during negotiations. Keystone patrollers have echoed these grievances, pressing for similar wage increases while demonstrating solidarity with their Park City counterparts.

“We took the $21 number from 2022 and plugged into the government’s Consumer Price Index and that’s how we got $23. So basically we are asking to match inflation.” – Jake Randall

Negotiations involve a federal mediator, some progress made, but pressing issues, such as pay hikes and benefits, are unresolved. Vail Resorts proposed a 4% wage increase plus $1,600 for equipment, but park patrollers demand more. Notably, Vail Resorts’ parent company, owning 42 ski areas worldwide, has experienced a dip in stock prices amid the strike’s ongoing ramifications and overcrowding concerns linked to the Epic Pass.

Interesting how much the Park City ski patrol workers venture to the heart of the matter, in a manner most young American workers don't: the workers, as is true in a number of German corporations, assert an interest in having a say as to how pay is set for managers/CEOs https://t.co/LafxNVg8fo

— Bill Wilson (@Scamateurism) January 2, 2025

Community Support and Potential Future Impacts

The ski patrollers’ plight has struck a chord with the local and wider community. More than $200,000 in donations have poured in via GoFundMe campaigns. Skiers and guests have voiced their frustrations, sharing experiences on social media. The negotiation standoff’s outcome is anticipated to influence upcoming resort negotiations at Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte Mountain, potentially setting a precedent for future industry labor disputes.

“I do hope Vail takes notice that we are so much more unified than we have ever been. The collaboration and sharing among ski patrollers across the country is at an all-time high. The solidarity among patrollers is really shining through right now and that is truly unique.” – Ryan Dineen

Park City Mountain skiers are urged to prepare for limited access to terrain and facilities due to reduced staff. Vail Resorts is hopeful for an amicable solution, yet the ripple effects of the strike are likely to extend beyond this ski season, potentially influencing resort policy and labor dynamics industry-wide.