Jackson Hole Ski Patrol Files Petition to Unionize After months of worker-led organizing, 93% of eligible members of Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Ski Patrol (JHSP) have filed for a union representation election with the National Labor Relations Board. If certified, the patrol will organize as the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol Union under Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7781, United Mountain Workers (UMW). Related: Why Ski Patrollers at Park […] Industry News SnowBrains | November 21, 2025 0 Comments
Park City Mountain, UT, Bike Patrol Votes to Unionize A summer of quiet organizing at Park City Mountain in Utah has ended in a decisive shift: the resort’s bike patrol voted to unionize, becoming the first group of summer employees at the resort to win collective bargaining rights. The move means that many patrollers who already belong to the ski patrol union in winter will now have union protections […] Industry News Martin Kuprianowicz | September 16, 2025 0 Comments
Arapahoe Basin, CO, Ski Patrol Votes to Unionize, Joins United Mountain Workers In a landmark decision, the Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrol Union (ABSPU) has officially voted to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA) 7781 United Mountain Workers, marking a significant step for the ski patrol team in their push for fair representation and better working conditions. The announcement, made via social media, highlighted the challenges faced by the patrol throughout the […] Industry News SnowBrains | January 13, 2025 0 Comments
Arapahoe Basin, CO, Ski Patrollers File to Unionize Summit County, CO – Nov. 18, 2024—The Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrol announced today its decision to file for union representation with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). As Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrol takes this important step to secure a stronger, collective voice in the workplace, it seeks to join nearly 1,000 ski patrollers and lift maintenance unionized crew members at […] Industry News Press Release | November 19, 2024 0 Comments
Keystone Resort, CO, Ski Patrol Submits Petition to Unionize Today, after many weeks of worker-led organizing efforts, a majority of Keystone Resort, Colorado, ski patrollers have chosen to file for a union representation election at the National Labor Relations Board. They are organized as the Keystone Ski Patrol Union (KSPU) into CWA Local 7781, the United Professional Ski Patrols of America (UPSPA). 70% of eligible ski patrollers signed union […] Industry News SnowBrains | March 4, 2024 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Ski Patrollers Submit Petition to Unionize Today, after a monthslong worker-led organizing effort, 70% of eligible ski patrollers at Palisades Tahoe, California, submitted a petition to the National Labor Relations Board requesting an election for union representation. They have also asked Palisades Tahoe management for voluntary recognition of their union. The Palisades Tahoe Professional Patrol Association is joining CWA 7781, the United Professional Ski Patrols of […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 27, 2024 0 Comments
Whitefish Mountain, MT, Ski Patrol Moves to Unionize Whitefish Mountain’s skiing heritage can be traced to the Depression-poor days of the late ’20s and ’30s when pioneers like Lloyd “Mully” Muldown and the Hell-Roaring Ski Club climbed up to the summit through waist-deep snow just to ski down the mountain. Two decades later the official opening day for Whitefish Mountain was on Sunday, Dec. 14, 1947. It is rich […] Industry News Gregg Frantz | February 21, 2024 0 Comments
Solitude Mountain Resort, UT, Ski Patrollers Submit Petition to Unionize Today, after a monthslong worker-led organizing effort, a supermajority of ski patrollers at Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah, has submitted a petition for union representation at the National Labor Relations Board. This makes them the first ski patrol to organize at a resort owned by Alterra Mountain Company. They are organizing as the Solitude Ski Patrollers Association and will join the […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 15, 2024 0 Comments
Ski Patrol at Eldora Mountain Resort, CO, Campaigning to Unionize Today, a supermajority of ski patrollers and medics at Eldora Mountain Resort, CO, filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (‘NLRB’) to hold an election for union representation in affiliation with the United Professional Ski Patrols of America (‘UPSPA’). The Eldora Professional Ski Patrol Association (‘EPSPA’) is joining a growing movement of unionized patrollers working to adapt to […] Industry News SnowBrains | October 26, 2023 1 Comment
Loveland Ski Area, CO, Patrollers Vote to Unionize On Friday, April 14th, 2023, ski patrollers and paramedics at Loveland Ski Area, CO, voted to unionize with CWA 7781, the United Professional Ski Patrols of America. With this vote, they will join patrollers at eight Mountain West resorts in unionized patrol. Related: Woman is Suing Vail Resorts After Rescue Toboggan She Was in Overturned Due to “High Rate of […] Industry News SnowBrains | April 17, 2023 0 Comments
Ski Patrollers at Loveland Ski Area, CO, Vote to Unionize Yesterday, ski patrollers and paramedics at Loveland Ski Area, CO, submitted a petition for a representation election to the National Labor Relations Board. They are organizing as the Loveland Ski Patrol Professional Union under CWA 7781, the United Professional Ski Patrols of America. The petition was submitted with 70% support. Related: Should We Pay Ski Patrollers More? “Loveland has seen […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 15, 2023 0 Comments
Park City Mountain Resort, UT, Maintenance Vote to Unionize Park City Mountain Resort lift mechanics & electricians yesterday voted 35-6 to unionize with the United Professional Ski Patrols of America, CWA 7781. The vote comes after a months-long organizing effort and signifies the first ski resort lift maintenance department in the country to unionize. They have organized as the Park City Lift Maintenance Professional Union. “By unionizing we are no longer passengers, […] Industry News SnowBrains | November 23, 2022 0 Comments
Lift Mechanics and Electricians at Park City Mountain Resort, UT, Looking to Unionize Today, lift mechanics and electricians at Park City Mountain Resort, UT, submitted a petition for a representation election to the National Labor Relations Board. They are organizing as the Park City Lift Maintenance Professional Union under CWA 7781, the United Professional Ski Patrols of America. The petition was submitted with 80% support. If successful, they will be the first ski […] Industry News SnowBrains | October 11, 2022 1 Comment
Purgatory Resort, CO, Bike Patrol Workers Take Historic Vote to Unionize Yesterday, the Purgatory Resort Bike Patrol voted to join the United Professional Ski Patrols of America, CWA 7781. 100% of the ballots cast were in favor, and no ballots were disputed. Their vote cements the patrol unit as the first summertime resort patrol in the country to unionize. Related: Breckenridge, CO Ski Patrollers Vote 43-42 to Unionize The 14 Bike […] Biking CycleBrains | September 23, 2022 0 Comments
Big Sky Resort, MT Patrollers Vote 69-21 to Unionize Ski patrollers at Big Sky Resort, MT, voted 69-21 in favor of unionizing last month, following the growing trend of ski patrols across the industry forming unions. Just over 100 patrollers were eligible to take part in the vote, which had been the culmination of seven years work. “We love ski patrolling, we love Lone Mountain, we love the community at […] Industry News SnowBrains | May 12, 2021 0 Comments
Breckenridge, CO Ski Patrollers Vote 43-42 to Unionize Ski Patrollers at Vail Resorts owned Breckenridge Resort, CO, narrowly voted on Monday to unionize. According to the National Labor Relations Board website, 88 patrollers voted; 43 for, 42 against, with three void ballots. Breckenridge has 114 patrollers. As a result of the vote, Breckenridge ski patrollers will join the Communications Workers of America labor union, reports Summit Daily. Related: Vail […] Industry News SnowBrains | May 5, 2021 8 Comments
Vote To Unionize Keystone’s Ski Patrol Struck Down 35-34 As a part of a larger movement amongst ski patrol units to unionize patrollers at Keystone Resort, CO, voted on the issue this winter. 69 out of 88 eligible ballots were cast, and a tally issued on March 29th declared the union-side lost 35-34. Despite the disappointingly narrow margin, union-side patrollers at Keystone understand that unionizing is not favorable without a […] Industry News Tony Miller | April 2, 2021 4 Comments
Vail Resorts to Reward Employees With Bonuses for Unprecedented Year – Except Unionized Patrollers To thank and reward their employees for working in an unprecedented working environment amid the global pandemic, Vail Resorts announced Thursday that they would be paying them year-end bonuses. But with one exception: unionized ski patrollers. Related: Forbes Names Vail Resorts to “America’s Best Large Employers” List Once Again Patrollers at Park City Mountain Resort, UT, Crested Butte, CO, and Stevens […] Industry News SnowBrains | March 8, 2021 9 Comments
Park City, UT, Ski Patrol Union Takes Legal Action Against Vail Resorts Over Paid Leave Benefits The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) has officially taken legal action against Vail Resorts by filing for arbitration, alleging a violation of their current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The dispute centers on the company’s refusal to extend a new benefit to the unionized Park City unit that has already been implemented for non-unionized patrols at other Vail-owned properties. Related: […] Industry News Martin Kuprianowicz | May 14, 2026 0 Comments
How The Epic Pass Changed Skiing: A Data Driven History of Vail Resorts Rob Katz, CEO of Vail Resorts, recently gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal where he discussed Vail’s strategic shift from day tickets to season pass revenues, and the subsequent rise in ticket prices and crowding across Vail’s wide collection of ski resorts. The story of the megapass revolution has been told several times over, but details remain murky […] Brains Zach Armstrong | March 13, 2026 2 Comments