Industry News
Whitefish Mountain’s skiing heritage can be traced to the Depression-poor days of the late ’20s and ’30s when pioneers like Lloyd “Mully” Muldown and the Hell-Roaring Ski Club climbed up to the summit through waist-deep snow just to ski down the mountain. Two decades later the official opening day for Whitefish Mountain was on Sunday, Dec. 14, 1947. It is rich in history and has grown since its humble beginnings.
The Great Depression may have happened almost 100 years ago, but the idea of being paid fairly is still an ongoing issue in the ski industry. The extremely high cost of living associated with working at a ski resort can be very difficult to find, especially for those who are hourly employees. Ski resorts have made attempts to ease that burden by providing employee housing and increasing hourly rates in hopes of retaining and attracting new staff to the resorts. However, the costs of living and working at a resort are still too high for most, and that has moved the Whitefish Mountain Professional Ski Patrol Association (WMRPSP) to unionize.
In a mission statement released by the WMRPSP, it stated the following goals:
- Fairly compensate all employees of WMRPSP. This will reflect our community’s changing economic challenges and directly incentivize patrollers who take on the added responsibilities of various critical and technical skills.
- Adequately equip our patrollers with the gear needed to fulfill their duties, including but not limited to creating a yearly gear allowance to provide equipment that we must rely on for our own and guests’ safety.
- Provide paid opportunities for education, which will add value to WMRPSP and our community.
- Provide benefits to allow patrollers to maintain good physical and mental health throughout the season through paid time off, sick leave, and healthcare stipends.
- Maintain a professional and supportive culture at WMR, where all employees are treated with dignity and respect, free from harassment, fear, and job insecurity.
“We were informed of this effort Monday morning and are just beginning to process what it may mean for the resort. We value our ski patrol and what it brings to our overall operation, and we intend to work to chart the best path forward,” Whitefish Mountain responded to the move by the WMRPSP in a statement.
It is not all about the money for the ski patrol members at Whitefish when deciding to unionize. The decision was also based upon ensuring the ski patrol team had the necessary training, equipment, and ability to perform their duties while performing their job. “We, the Whitefish Mountain Resort Professional Ski Patrol, have devoted our time, energy, and passion to providing the safest and most enjoyable experience to those who visit and live in our amazing mountain community,” the WMRPSP said in its mission statement.
Keeping and finding experienced ski patrol members can be a difficult thing to achieve and it is vital to the overall safety of the guests and employees at a resort. Having avalanche education, medical training, technical skills, and mountain knowledge takes time and money. Ensuring members of the ski patrol have these essential skill sets and training provides the formula for a strong team.
The WMRPSP has decided to unionize with the United Professional Ski Patrols of America/CWA and has asked Whitefish Mountain to voluntarily recognize the union and if it does not, they plan to have a vote within 25 days. Operating a successful and safe ski resort is not an easy task and it does take dedication, time, experience, knowledge, and money. The WMRPSP is looking towards the future and hopes Whiteface Mountain voluntarily approves the union. “We look forward to reaching a mutual agreement with Whitefish Mountain Resort to ensure a strong patrol that will continue to serve our guests,” the WMRPSP concluded in its mission statement.
For more information visit Whitefish Mountain’s website.
