Industry News
With the 2024-25 ski season fast approaching, Park City Mountain Resort’s ski patrollers find themselves in a familiar and precarious position. The collective bargaining agreement between Vail Resorts and Utah’s Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) expired on April 30, leaving patrollers without a new contract as opening day looms just 50 days away.
Negotiations for a new agreement began in March, but progress has been slow. The situation echoes the contentious 18-month negotiation process that ended in January 2022, when patrollers narrowly averted a strike after 50 bargaining sessions.
“Meetings have been productive, with positive back and forth discussions between the sides and the exchange of multiple proposals and counterproposals. Despite progress made over the past month, significant work remains before an agreement is reached.”
– PCPSPA statement in May
In this ‘David versus Goliath’ situation, the union, representing approximately 200 patrollers, is navigating complex negotiations without professional legal representation against the corporate might of Vail Resorts’s legal teams. Instead, an elected group of ski patrollers has volunteered their time to advocate for their colleagues.
- Related: Park City Ski Patrol Union Continues Contract Negotiations With Vail Resorts to Secure Livable Wages
The expired contract, which brought some positive changes in 2022, including wage increases and incentives, will remain in effect until a new agreement is reached. However, the lack of a current contract leaves patrollers in a state of uncertainty as they prepare for pre-season training.
Vail Resorts maintains its commitment to good-faith bargaining. “We care deeply about all our employees and are continuously improving the employee experience,” said Sara Huey, senior manager of communications for Park City Mountain, in May. “We are proud of the wages and benefits we provide and are committed to reaching a fair agreement.”
As negotiations continue, the PCPSPA calls on community support, asking ski enthusiasts and locals to spread the word about the situation.
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- Related: Vail Resorts to Reward Employees With Bonuses for Unprecedented Year – Except Unionized Patrollers
History
The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) reached a hard-fought agreement with Vail Resorts in January 2022, concluding a contentious 18-month negotiation process. The union, at the time representing about 180 patrollers and safety personnel at Park City Mountain Resort, narrowly averted a strike during the busy Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.
Negotiations began in August 2020 and were marked by tension over wages and working conditions. Patrollers cited concerns about low pay, long hours, and the high cost of living in Park City. The union initially sought a starting wage of $16.70 per hour for first-year patrollers, while Vail Resorts proposed $15 per hour.
As talks dragged on, patrollers faced increasing financial strain. Some reported difficulty affording basic necessities, including gas, for their commutes. In response, supporters established a solidarity fund to assist patrollers during negotiations.
The situation reached a critical point in January 2022 when union members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if an agreement could not be reached. This move pressured Vail Resorts to return to the bargaining table.
After a marathon 15-hour negotiation session, the two sides finally reached an agreement. While specific details were not fully disclosed, it was reported that the union accepted a base wage of $15 per hour, with additional incentives for patrollers working at both Park City Mountain Resort base areas.
The Park City ski patrol unionization was part of a broader trend in the industry. Similar efforts had succeeded at other resorts, including Breckenridge, Colorado, and Big Sky, Montana. These movements reflected growing concerns about wages and working conditions in the ski industry, particularly as resort towns faced rising living costs.
