Two hundred Utah ski patrollers returned to work Thursday after voting to accept a new labor contract and ending a nearly two-week strike. The strike, which began Dec. 27, closed many trails and caused long lift lines at the country's biggest ski resort. The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association claimed victory, saying Colorado-based Vail Resorts agreed to their key demands, including a $2-an-hour base-pay increase and raises for senior patrollers.
Two hundred Utah ski patrollers returned to work Thursday after voting to accept a new labor contract and end a nearly two-week strike that closed many trails and caused long lift lines at the ones that remained open during a busy time of year at the country's biggest ski resort.
The Park City Ski Professional Ski Patrol Association claimed victory, saying in a statement that Colorado-based Vail Resorts, which owns Park City Mountain Resort, acceded to its key demands including a $2-an-hour base-pay increase and raises for senior ski patrollers.'This contract is more than just a win for our team — it’s a groundbreaking success in the ski and mountain worker industry. This effort demonstrates what can be achieved when workers stand together and fight for what they deserve,” ski patroller and union lead negotiator Seth Dromgoole said in a statement. Union negotiators and Vail Resorts announced Tuesday that they had reached a tentative deal. The full union voted Wednesday to accept the agreement. The strike began Dec. 27 after negotiations that started in March bogged down and the union accused Vail Resorts of bargaining unfairly. The strike coincided with the busy holiday season and a period of more than 2 feet (61 centimeters) of fresh but difficult-to-access snowfall at the resort.“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, Vail Resorts' mountain division president, said in a statement. Pointing to steep inflation since 2022, the Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association sought a pay increase from $21 to $23 an hour. It said $27 is a livable wage in Park City, which is also home to Deer Valley Resort. Park City, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Salt Lake City, is a resort town of about 8,000 people where the average home price tops $1.5 million and living costs are well above average. The raises include a $4-an-hour average increase for senior ski patrollers, with some specialized long-time workers getting an average of $7.75 more, according to the union. The union also sought higher pay for the longest-serving patrollers. The current scale tops out after five years on the job. Vail Resorts, which with 42 properties on three continents calls itself the world’s largest mountain resort operator, said it already had been generous with the Park City Mountain Resort ski patrollers, pointing to a 50% base-pay increase from $13 to $21 an hour in 2022. It had been offering a 4% pay increase for most patrollers and $1,600 each year for their equipment. Ski labor negotiations aren’t rare, but this strike happened after talks went much longer than usual, drawing attention during a busy time, observed Alex Kaufman, a former ski resort marketing executive and podcaster. “The issue was probably never really about the money or benefits. It was a conscious decision by Vail Resorts to let it bleed into the holidays,” Kaufman said. “They overplayed their hand and paid the price.” Ski patrollers maintain safety by monitoring terrain, responding to accidents, hauling injured skiers downhill and reducing avalanche risk, such as by releasing built-up snow with explosives when nobody is nearby. Many work other jobs in the summer, including as fly-fishing, mountain biking and whitewater rafting guides. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission
PARK CITY SKI RESORT SKI PATROL STRIKE LABOR CONTRACT VAIL RESORTS
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Park City Mountain Ski Resort Facing Staffing Shortages as Ski Patrollers StrikePark City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the US, is experiencing long lift lines and limited trail access due to a strike by ski patrollers. The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association, representing 204 ski patrollers and safety staff, began striking on December 27th, demanding a $2 per hour wage increase. Vail Resorts, which owns the resort, argues that they have already significantly increased wages over the past few years.
Read more »
Park City Ski Resort Suffers From Strike Action by Ski PatrollersThe Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association has been striking against Vail Resorts since December 27th, disrupting operations at the largest ski resort in the U.S. The strike, which has caused lengthy lift lines and limited terrain, stems from demands for a $2 hourly wage increase. With only a quarter of the slopes open, the resort faces significant challenges due to the lack of ski patrollers who are responsible for crucial tasks like trail opening, accident response, and avalanche prevention.
Read more »
Park City Ski Patrol authorizes strike after unanimous voteThe Park City Ski Patrol Association announced Saturday that a strike authorization vote held this week passed unanimously.
Read more »
Park City Ski Patrol votes to strike if contract dispute continues with Vail ResortsMembers of the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) have voted to strike if a fair contract agreement cannot be reached with Vail Resorts.On S
Read more »
Park City Mountain ski patrol union files unfair labor practice complaints against VailThe Park City ski patrol union and Vail Resorts met for negotiations. The union has now filed unfair labor practice charges.
Read more »
Park City Ski Patrollers Raise Funds in Case of StrikeMembers of the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association are dissatisfied with contract negotiations with Vail Resorts and held a fundraiser to cover potential strike costs. They are prepared to strike if an agreement isn't reached.
Read more »