Photo: Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association
The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA), the labor union of ski patrollers at Park City Mountain, reportedly voted to approve a strike authorization amid labor negotiations that have been ongoing with Vail Resorts since March. The PCPSPA’s contract expired more than six months ago and the sides held the 23rd meeting to negotiate a new agreement on Thursday, December 12, with two more meetings set for this week. The last meeting, however, ended with union officials abruptly walking out of the room and insisting the company “has not demonstrated a willingness to engage meaningfully” on pay and benefits.
Concerning benefits, the PCPSPA is asking for a benefits package that would support workers year-round. As seasonal employees, the union says most ski patrollers don’t take advantage of things like health insurance offered by Vail Resorts because it’s too difficult to switch coverage every six months.
As for pay, the union is asking for a starting wage increase of $21 to $23 hourly — which is still lower than what comparable employees earn at nearby Deer Valley ($23.50) and Eden’s Powder Mountain ($26) — as well as compensation increases for returning, experienced patrollers. The demands, they say, represents the rise in inflation since the previous contract negotiations two years ago and reflect the rising costs of living.
On the other side of negotiations, Park City Mountain says experienced patrollers already make 35 percent more than their entry-level counterparts on staff. The company revealed that it had proposed a four percent raise on average for this current season, which is above the 2.7 percent inflation for the year and is “consistent with those accepted by all our other [Vail Resorts] patrols – both unionized and non-unionized,” Park City Mountain said in a release to the media. The mountain has also offered a $1,600 equipment allowance. According to Vail Resorts, the current structure hasn’t shrunk the hiring pool. A spokesperson told The Park Record the resort received 3,000 applications for the 300 jobs Park City had to fill across its various ski patrols this season.
“We left the negotiations after giving them our economic counter proposals with an explanation of the included cost of living adjustments,” union business manager Margaux Klingensmith told the Salt Lake Tribune, “and addressed our frustrations with how the process has been going. We told the company that we look forward to discussing the proposal, and hopefully their counter offer, on Monday.”
A strike is apparently a real option. And it’s been on the table before. During negotiations in 2021, the union also received authorization to strike, according to the Tribune. The PCPSPA started a public strike fund in preparation for the possible work stoppage. The union built up $65,000 in 2021, while the two parties were in negotiations. And reportedly returned that money after there was no strike. The current fundraiser for this potential stoppage had drawn more than $7,000 as of Monday.
