Ski patrollers at the largest ski resort in the United States have reached a tentative agreement with the corporate owner of Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort, effectively ending a strike that lasted nearly two weeks. This strike had resulted in closed slopes and lengthy wait times for lifts during a peak season for winter sports.
Details regarding the agreement between the Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association and Vail Resorts, based in Colorado, have not been disclosed, as they await a ratification vote planned for Wednesday.
Regardless of the outcome, the strike has drawn significant attention to the financial struggles that ski patrollers face in expensive mountain towns. The show of support from the community, including a chorus of car honking for the striking workers, highlights this issue.
According to industry experts, a favorable outcome for the union could lead to increased wages for other ski resort workers as well. Alex Kaufman, a former marketing executive in the ski industry, noted that successful contract negotiations by one group often create a “rising tide” effect that benefits others in the field.
The town of Park City, situated roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Salt Lake City, has around 8,000 residents, but it is known for exorbitant home prices, which average over $1.5 million, and a cost of living that far exceeds national averages.
The protest began on December 27 when the 200 ski patrollers accused management of unfair negotiation practices since talks started in March. The tentative agreement, which would be effective until April 2027, received unanimous approval from the ski patrol negotiators, as stated in a joint communication from both the resort and the union.
The statement expressed optimism about the return to normal operations at the resort, emphasizing the intent to move forward as a united team.
Ski patrollers play a vital role in ensuring the safety of guests by monitoring the slopes, responding to accidents, escorting injured individuals down the mountain, and managing avalanche risks, which includes the controlled use of explosives to mitigate snow buildup. Their specialized knowledge of the resort’s terrain is crucial for effective incident management.
These positions are seasonal, with many patrollers taking on other roles like guiding fly-fishing or biking activities during the summer months.
With inflation rates rising since 2022, the Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association has advocated for increased hourly wages from $21 to $23. The union argues that a living wage in Park City should start at $27, considering the high cost of living, which is compounded by the presence of other luxury resorts like Deer Valley.
Additionally, the union is pushing for better compensation for long-serving patrollers, as the existing pay scale caps after five years of employment.
On the opposite side, Vail Resorts claims to have been accommodating to the patrollers, having already implemented a 50% increase in their base pay from $13 to $21 an hour in 2022, along with a proposed 4% pay raise and an annual stipend of $1,600 for necessary equipment.
While labor negotiations in the ski industry are not uncommon, this particular strike extended longer than is typically seen, and it received increased attention during a peak holiday period. Kaufman observed that the underlying issue seemed less about wages and more about a perceived unwillingness by Vail Resorts to expedite negotiations during the holiday season.
Visitors at the Park City Mountain Resort even expressed solidarity with the striking workers, chanting, “Pay your employees!” from the lift lines, as captured in videos shared on social media.
Recent strikes by various labor unions have successfully led to considerable concessions from employers, including workers from Boeing, dockworkers along the East and Gulf coasts, video game performers, and hotel staff in Las Vegas.
As threats from dockworkers to reinstate their strike over automation loom, this could significantly affect port operations and broader economic ramifications, especially as political shifts occur with a new president taking office.
