Industry News
Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado and the Crested Butte Lift Maintenance Union have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract after a year of negotiations. This agreement, which extends through August 2027, is now awaiting ratification by union members, with voting set to conclude on February 12, according to a statement released this morning.
This development follows months of discussions about wages, benefits, and working conditions. The union, representing 11 mechanics and one electrician, authorized a strike in January after rejecting previous proposals from resort operator Vail Resorts. Union President Thomas Pearman described the initial wage offer as insufficient, considering the rising cost of living in the Gunnison Valley.
“JOINT STATEMENT FROM CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT AND THE CRESTED BUTTE LIFT MAINTENANCE UNION
Crested Butte Mountain Resort and the Crested Butte Lift Maintenance Union are pleased to announce that we have reached a new tentative agreement through August 2027. The Union’s bargaining committee is unanimously endorsing ratification by its unit with a vote scheduled to conclude on February 12. Together, the resort and the union are looking forward to the remainder of the winter season. Until contract ratification, neither party will be accepting media requests.”
– Official statement
The tentative deal marks a significant step forward for both parties. In recent weeks, negotiations reportedly became more constructive following public support for the union, including a petition with over 800 signatures and a strike fund that raised nearly $12,000. While details of the new agreement remain undisclosed, the union’s bargaining committee has unanimously endorsed its ratification.
Vail Resorts owns Crested Butte Mountain Resort, having purchased it from Triple Peaks LLC in 2018. The acquisition, part of a larger deal involving Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont and Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire, cost Vail Resorts $82 million. Vail Resorts also paid off $155 million in Triple Peaks lease debt with Ski Resort Holdings, LLC.
Neither Crested Butte Mountain Resort nor the union is accepting media requests until the contract is finalized. Both sides expressed optimism about moving forward collaboratively as they prepare for the remainder of the winter season.
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Crested Butte Mountain Resort spans 1,547 skiable acres with 121 trails, offering diverse terrain for all skill levels. The resort features a vertical drop of 2,775 feet, with a summit elevation of 12,162 feet and a base elevation of 9,375 feet. Its terrain breakdown includes 14% beginner, 24% intermediate, 25% advanced, and 37% expert runs, making it renowned for its challenging and steep skiing. The resort boasts 15 lifts and receives an average of 236 inches of snowfall annually, attracting skiers with its legendary extreme terrain and unique tree-skiing opportunities.
Way to go Vail (aka Fail) Resorts. It only took 13 months to get a contract completed for 11 employees. I am sure with your attorneys working on the negotiations they racked up lots of fees at $1,000 per hour which is probably more than the employee raises for the next 3 years. Senior Fail Resorts management propaganda of telling their employees they are number one with the middle finger.
Note: I have a client with a union contract with 500 employees, and they got a new contract done in 3 days before the old contract ended. No strike or any business disruptions.