Ski patrollers at Park City Mountain Resort have gone on strike, causing disruptions during peak season and highlighting growing labor tensions in the ski industry.
At a Glance
- Park City Mountain Resort ski patrollers began striking on December 27, demanding a $2 per hour pay raise
- The strike has led to long lift lines, limited terrain access, and slower response times for injured skiers
- Only 30-35 patrollers are currently working, compared to the normal staffing of over 100
- Vail Resorts, the owner of Park City Mountain, is in ongoing negotiations with the striking workers
- The strike has garnered significant community support, with over $200,000 raised through GoFundMe
First Modern Ski Patroller Strike Hits Largest U.S. Resort
Park City Mountain Resort, the largest ski resort in the United States, is facing unprecedented challenges as its ski patrollers launched a strike on December 27. This marks the first modern strike by ski patrollers, occurring during a busy period following heavy snowfall. The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association, representing 204 members, is demanding a $2 increase in hourly wages from Vail Resorts, the resort’s owner.
The strike has significantly impacted resort operations, with only 30 to 35 patrollers currently on duty, far below the normal staffing levels of over 100. This reduction in workforce has resulted in longer lift lines, limited availability of skiing terrain, and concerns about safety and emergency response times.
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
Now imagine people in other industries doing, this, too. This is what leftist policy does.
Negotiations and Labor Disputes
Vail Resorts and the union are currently in negotiations with a federal mediator. The company has proposed a 4% wage increase and $1,600 for equipment costs, but key issues remain unresolved. The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association has filed multiple unfair labor practice complaints against Vail Resorts, accusing them of bad faith negotiations and coercive tactics.
“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, a patroller from Keystone’s ski patrol union, said.
The strike’s impact extends beyond Park City, with patrollers at other Vail Resorts-owned locations, such as Keystone, demonstrating solidarity and considering similar actions. This growing labor movement in the ski industry could have far-reaching consequences for resort operations and guest experiences across the country.
Despite the inconveniences caused by the strike, the ski patrollers have received significant community support. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $200,000 in donations, demonstrating public empathy towards the patrollers’ demands. However, the situation has also led to frustration among guests, with many expressing dissatisfaction on social media about long wait times and limited access to ski terrain.
More strikes like this could soon erupt in Democrat states.
