(GoRealNewsNow.com) – As skiers flock to the largest U.S. Park City Mountain resort for the long-awaited snowfall, they face unprecedented hurdles due to the ongoing massive strike by ski patrollers.
Vail Resorts and the Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association remain at an impasse, which is significantly impacting visitor experiences as crowds grow restless. With tensions mounting, local community support for the patrollers seems stronger than ever.
The Park City Mountain Resort’s troubles began in late December when ski patrollers went on strike. This was the first modern strike of its kind, following rising unionization efforts among resort workers.
These dedicated patrollers have demanded a $2 raise and are striving for a $23 starting hourly wage.
The terrain of Park City is vast, and normally, over 100 patrollers keep the 7,300 acres safe. Only 30 to 35 patrollers are working while the rest participate in the strike.
With such limited staff, skiers experience long lift lines and slower injury responses. This situation has prompted solidarity rallies among patrollers across the West.
In response, Vail Resorts claims the strike’s impact is minimal, as they have enlisted non-union managers and supervisors from other areas.
However, this has not alleviated the consequences, as visible on social media where disgruntled skiers express their frustrations.
Community support has been notable. Over $200,000 has been raised for the patrollers via GoFundMe, showcasing the solidarity the striking workers have achieved.
Furthermore, the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association has filed multiple unfair labor practice complaints against Vail Resorts, accusing them of coercive negotiation tactics.
This situation mirrors similar disputes at other Vail-owned resorts, where patrollers are also seeking fair wages.
Ryan Dineen, a Breckenridge ski patroller who helped organize ski patrollers there into a union in 2021, said, “I do hope Vail takes notice that we are so much more unified than we have ever been.”
“The collaboration and sharing among ski patrollers across the country is at an all-time high. The solidarity among patrollers is really shining through right now, and that is truly unique,” he continued.
The negotiation hurdles remain, with Vail Resorts offering a 4% wage increase and $1,600 for equipment costs—proposals that have not resolved the core issues.
The patchwork solution of bringing supervisors and other staff has not fully addressed the decline in service quality, as fewer ski areas remain open.
Despite the abundance of snow, the strike and limited patroller numbers have heavily restricted terrain access.
Concern over the situation extends to Vail Resorts’ financial health, with stock prices slipping amidst the chaos.
Epic Pass sales might also decline as customers lose confidence in the resort’s ability to manage crowds and safety effectively.
As negotiations continue with federal mediation, observers wonder if other resorts like Breckenridge and Keystone might face similar labor challenges.
With a season intended to be full of holiday cheer turning sour for many visitors, the stakes are high for swift resolution.
The ski patrollers’ demands highlight the critical need for respect and fair compensation for those ensuring the safety and enjoyment of ski enthusiasts on the slopes.
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