Contract negotiations between Crested Butte Mountain Resort lift workers and Vail Resorts have reached a critical point, with workers authorizing a strike if their demands for better wages, benefits, and working conditions are not met.
Workers at Crested Butte Mountain Resort are engaged in tense contract negotiations with Vail Resorts ownership, with the possibility of a strike looming. Despite a more positive recent period, negotiations have spanned over a year, prompting a worker vote on January 22 to authorize a strike. Thomas Pearman, the union president and a lift mechanic at Crested Butte, emphasizes that while workers hope to avoid a strike, they are prepared for it.
This comes after a similar situation unfolded at Park City Mountain Resort, where ski patrol workers held a strike from December 27 to January 8 before reaching a deal with Vail Resorts.Pearman highlights the critical role of unions in ensuring worker retention, as the company's primary focus tends to be profit rather than employee well-being. Unlike most ski resort positions, lift maintenance workers are employed year-round, performing crucial upkeep and upgrades during the summer months. Pearman, who has worked at Crested Butte since 2021, points to a significant 50 percent turnover rate since the group unionized in June 2023. He attributes this high turnover to safety concerns, as experienced personnel are vital for safe operations. The nature of the work itself also poses inherent risks, involving high-voltage electricity, heavy lifting, and working at heights.The union seeks higher wages and improved training to address these issues. Pearman explains that each departing employee represents a loss of valuable knowledge and experience specific to certain lifts or terrain. He criticizes the current compensation as insufficient considering the high cost of living, job hazards, and stress. Workers are choosing less demanding and better-paying roles elsewhere. The union gained recognition through a majority vote in 2023, although Vail Resorts reportedly held meetings attempting to discourage unionization. Despite the vote, contract negotiations didn't begin until January 2024, with thirteen meetings between January and October followed by a hiatus until 2025.Negotiations have been ongoing weekly since the start of 2025, but disagreements persist regarding wage structure, equipment, tools, and benefits. A January wage proposal from Vail Resorts, identical to current rates, was met with disappointment by the union. They argue that it fails to reflect the rising cost of living in the Gunnison Valley. In response to the inadequate proposal, union members see a strike as the only viable option. The union is prepared with a strike fund to support members during a potential work stoppage
UNION STRIKE WAGES BENEFITS SAFETY SKI RESORT VAIL RESORTS LIFT MAINTENANCE
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