The Park City Mountain’s ski patrol union went on strike on Friday morning, leaving approximately 200 patrollers and safety staff participating in the action. Despite this, the resort remains open for skiing. The union has been negotiating with the mountain’s officials since April over wages and contract terms.
According to Deirdre Walsh, Park City Mountain Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, the resort is “deeply disappointed” in the strike decision. However, the union claims that negotiations have stalled, citing a lack of progress on fair wages and benefits.
The union has been seeking increased compensation for patrollers, particularly those with more experience, to adjust for nationwide inflation. The current base wage is $21 per hour, which the union believes does not reflect the actual cost of living.
Park City Mountain claims that patrol wages have increased by over 50% in the past four seasons, outpacing inflation. However, the union disputes this claim, arguing that more experienced patrollers require higher compensation to compensate for their increased responsibility and expertise.
The strike is not expected to significantly impact skiing operations at this time, as resort officials have brought in additional patrollers from other resorts to fill in for striking members. The union has filed unfair labor practice complaints against Vail with the National Labor Relations Board over delays in negotiations.
As the strike continues, the union is asking the public to support local businesses and boycott Vail Resorts during this time. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $32,000, with a goal of reaching $100,000.
Source: https://www.kpcw.org/ski-resorts/2024-12-27/park-city-ski-patrol-officially-on-strike