[UPDATED] Vail Resorts and Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association Reach Definitive Agreement to End Strike

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Park City patrol, on strike, have come to an agreement with Vail Resorts  | Photo: Supplied

[Updated 6:10 a.m. MST, January 8, 2024]

In a joint statement Tuesday night, Vail Resorts and the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) announced that they have reached a tentative agreement on a contract for the resort’s ski patrol and safety workers, hopefully ending the strike.

Park City Mountain, Utah, ski patrol went on strike on December 27, making today the 13th day of the strike. They are demanding better wages and benefits. The union is seeking a $2 per-hour raise from $21 to $23 base wage, arguing that current wages are insufficient for living in an expensive mountain town.

The PCPSPA will vote on the agreement today, Wednesday, January 8. If agreed to, the new contract will be valid through April 2027.

“Park City Mountain and the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) are pleased to announce that they have reached a new tentative agreement through April 2027. The Union’s bargaining committee is unanimously endorsing ratification by its unit, with a vote scheduled to take place on January 8. The tentative agreement addresses both parties’ interests and will end the current strike. Everyone looks forward to restoring normal resort operations and moving forward together as one team. Until contract ratification, neither party will be accepting media requests.”

– Joint statement

Then on Wednesday, January 8, a representative from Vail Resorts informed SnowBrains that a definitive agreement had been reached between the corporation and the PCPSPA.

“Park City Mountain has reached an agreement with the Park City ski patrol union that is consistent with our company’s wage structure for all patrollers, non-unionized and unionized, while accounting for the unique terrain and avalanche complexity of Park City Mountain. We look forward to welcoming back the Park City Mountain patrollers in the coming days and moving forward together as one team. We apologize to our guests who were impacted by this strike and are incredibly grateful to our team who worked hard to keep the mountain open and operating safely over the past two weeks.”

– Bill Rock, President of Vail Resorts’ Mountain Division

Vail Resorts shared in the media release that upcoming terrain priorities at Park City Mountain include Tombstone, Dream Peak, and McConkey’s. Snowmaking this week will continue on the Town runs and will include Silver Star, Doc’s, and Lookout Ridge as the Park City Mountain operations team continues to open the terrain that can be opened safely with the people they have each day.

The terms of the agreement are unlikely to be shared. Still, previous reports from Park City Mountain Resort’s management claimed they offered fair terms, including a 50% wage increase over the last four years, a proposal with a $1,600 equipment allowance, and a 4% increase. The average seasonal patroller wage is over $25 per hour, and experienced patrollers earn 35% more than entry-level positions.

The strike and poor snow have impacted operations at Park City Mountain over the holidays, the busiest time of the year. The strike significantly reduced the number of patrollers on the mountain from 120 to 30-40 per day, affecting lift lines and terrain accessibility. While the union asserted that negotiations have been ongoing for months, resort management expressed disappointment over the strike. Despite the ongoing dispute, both sides showed the desire to reach an agreement, with the resort emphasizing its commitment to safe operations during the busy holiday season. An end to the strike would be a welcome relief to both parties.

Posted by SnowBrains |

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