Industry News
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 United Professional Ski Patrols of America (UPSPA, CWA 7781). Over 94% of eligible patrollers have signed union authorization cards, and they have also asked their management for voluntary recognition.
- Check out all the other resort ski patrols that have unionized
Ski patrollers at Solitude face many challenges that are putting pressure on patrollers across the industry: high turnover, low wages, and insufficient support to effectively do their jobs. By unionizing, patrollers will have the opportunity to collaborate with Solitude to build and retain an experienced, professional patrol.
“Being a Ski Patroller at Solitude Mountain Resort is a demanding role. Our patrollers must be well-versed in emergency medical care, avalanche mitigation, rope rescue, and other specialties. While being a patroller is extremely rewarding, we need to be compensated appropriately for our expertise and the risks we take at work. We need to have the resources to provide for our families and do our jobs.”
– Robbie Kosinski, a Hill Captain in his third year at Solitude
Sean Parent, a Ski Patroller in his fifth season at Solitude, added, “Being a patroller here requires years of experience and expertise to gain a mastery level of competency. We need an avenue to retain patrollers and keep that expertise on staff. By having a seat at the table to create a contract that provides job protection, increased compensation for high-risk work, better benefits, and more opportunities, we will be able to retain patrollers and add a depth of knowledge and wisdom to the crew.”
In response, Solitude Mountain Resort issued this comment via email to SnowBrains:
“Solitude values all its employees, including our ski patrollers and the contributions they make to our operation. We are committed to providing competitive wages, excellent benefits, and an employee experience that is fulfilling, safe, and inclusive of opportunities for growth. Among our largest investments in the last two years have been a 42% increase in starting wages for patrollers, the introduction of an annual equipment stipend, the installation of remote avalanche control systems, and resort-funded employee transportation. We are dedicated to ongoing open dialogue with our employees regarding how we can continue to improve all aspects of their employee experience.”
The Solitude Ski Patrollers Association is the third patrol to launch its unionization effort in the 2023-24 winter season. They join the Whitefish Mountain Resort Professional Ski Patrol, launched on Monday, and the Eldora Professional Ski Patrol Association. If successful, they would be the second unionized ski patrol in Utah, following the Park City Professional Ski Patrol. Solitude would also be the first patrol to unionize while owned by Alterra; Steamboat, in Steamboat Springs, CO, was acquired by Alterra after their ski patrol successfully unionized.
