Industry News
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 cards. The patrol has also asked Keystone management for voluntary recognition of their union.
Ski patrollers at Keystone are responsible for the safety and operation of all aspects of the mountain, opening and maintaining terrain, avalanche mitigation, lift evacuation, and first responder medical care to injured guests. These highly trained individuals put their own safety at risk every day to produce a product that is the lifeblood of the mountain they call home.
“We live in some of the most expensive towns in the world, so our community faces very unique economic challenges. It also takes years to refine the skillset needed to become a patroller. You need to obtain your own EMT and OEC certifications before we even begin to teach how to run toboggans, throw explosives, establish trail closures, and evacuate chairlifts. So, we have patrollers that don’t feel adequately compensated for the investment they’ve made into this career, and patrols across the country struggle to retain the institutional knowledge needed to effectively run the operation.”
– Jake Randall, a 5th-year patroller at Keystone
Keystone ski patrollers face a lack of affordable housing, stagnated wages, and limited resources. This leads to many patrollers not seeing a future in their work, which makes retention difficult. The KSPU is meant to give Keystone patrollers a voice to advocate for a better future and a seat at the table to discuss what that means for the longevity of patrol as a viable career.
“We’re really looking forward to joining a collective of other represented patrols. The industry is shifting and it’s exciting to be a part of the momentum. We don’t typically work with patrollers outside of our own resort, so it’s been a great opportunity to strengthen relationships with patrols across the country. Although we all have wildly different operations day-to-day, we also all share similar hardships and it’s been empowering to find an avenue to effect positive change together.”
– KSPU
Keystone Ski Patrol is the fifth ski patrol this season to file for union representation, joining Eldora, Palisades Tahoe, and others. Their union campaign comes three years after the 2021 unionization effort, which failed by one vote – but KSPU is back and ready to win. Through unionizing, they are taking the first step towards a better, more sustainable Keystone Ski Patrol.
In response to the news, Keystone Resort GM Chris Sorensen told SnowBrains:
“We care deeply about our team members at Keystone Resort and appreciate all that they do. While we respect our employees’ right to seek to organize, we genuinely believe that the best way to foster an inclusive culture where all employees feel empowered and heard is to have a direct, open relationship. We will continue to do the right thing for our team members, regardless of a union.
My leadership team and I are committed to our employees and continuously improving the employee experience, which in the last two years alone has included significant investment in wages, benefits, mental health resources, development opportunities and more. Specifically, this group has seen their average wage increased by 49% over the last five years. I’m proud of the strides we’ve made together so far and we’re committed to continuing this work.”
– Chris Sorensen, General Manager, Keystone Resort
Updated on March 5, 03:45 p.m. PT to add quote from Keystone GM.
