Park City Mountain ski patrollers are on strike

Skiers in Park City, Utah. (Photo by The Palmer/Getty Images)

The Park City Ski Patrol union went on strike Friday, the latest in months of negotiations between them Vail Resorts and the mountain’s first responders demanding higher wages and better benefits.

In a statement posted to social mediaThe Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) announced that its nearly 200 members had “hung up.” They took off their jackets, left the locker room and formed a picket line.”

“We did everything in our power to avoid this loss of work. Our goal was and is to secure a fair contract,” the union said in a statement.

The holiday strike comes during what is typically the busiest time of year for ski resorts. Deirdra Walsh, vice president and chief operating officer of Park City Mountain, said the resort’s ski patrol line and backup patrols from other mountains will keep the resort open with no site closures planned.

“We remain committed to reaching an agreement,” she said in a statement.

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Since the union’s contract expired in April, the PCPSPA and the resort have been in discussions with Park City’s parent company, Vail Resorts, to pursue higher wages. According to a GoFundMe That brought in nearly $32,000 for the union as of Friday. The patrol officers negotiated a base wage of $23 an hour, better benefits and educational opportunities, and a pay structure “that appropriately rewards qualified and experienced patrol officers and addresses wage compression.”

Since negotiations began, the resort and the union have agreed to 24 of the 27 current contract terms, Walsh said.

But on December 13, the union voted unanimously to authorize a strike. And on Friday, the union accused the resort company of “bad faith tactics” after a seven-hour bargaining session the day before. Vail refused to make a counteroffer and flew in replacement patrols, the union said.

“They had two weeks to prepare a counterproposal…Furthermore, the company continues to enforce its anti-worker strategy by flying in strikebreakers instead of coming to the table with a reasonable offer,” the PCPSPA said.

“We are deeply disappointed that the patrol union has turned away from mediation and taken drastic action to disrupt mountain operations in the middle of the holiday season, given our significant investment in the patrol,” Walsh said on Friday. “In addition to over 50% wage increases over the past four seasons, the current Park City Mountain Patrol proposal increases wages for the majority of patrol officers by an additional 4% and provides $1,600 per patrol officer for equipment.”

The union said it filed “multiple” claims of unfair labor conditions against Vail Resorts during negotiations. In her statement on Friday, she called for a boycott of the company.

“Do not purchase day passes or food at Vail-owned restaurants. Do not use Vail-owned rental or retail stores. Do not stay in Vail-owned hotels. Instead, buy and support local businesses!” PCPSPA said.

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