Park City ski patrol union raises over $50,000

The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association's "solidarity fund" has raised over $50,000. Photo: TownLift

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) has raised over $50,000 through its “solidarity fund” on GoFundMe, as contract negotiations continue between the union and Park City Mountain owner Vail Resorts.

PCPSPA labeled the fund a “safety net in the event we are forced into more significant action, and we are not receiving paychecks,” and added, “it is only utilized to help patrollers pay for basic needs such as rent and food in our last/worst-case scenario.” As of Monday evening, the union received 918 individual donations.

There is a bargaining session between the two parties scheduled for Monday night. PCPSPA recently rejected a proposed contract with starting wages at $15 an hour. Union patrollers are currently paid $13.25 an hour. Given the lack of a current agreement, union members follow the policies of the last expired contract, which ended on May 1, 2021.

The union’s goal is a $17 an hour starting wage. PCPSPA Business Manager Patrick Murphy has said it isn’t fair for the union to have the resort-wide starting wage of $15 an hour, given the physical challenges of ski patrol. He also said the union wants to see more wage incentives for experienced patrollers.

Park City Mountain Chief Operating Officer Mike Goar, a former patroller at Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon, told TownLift he has “an appreciation and understanding of what it takes to be a patroller” and “a great deal of appreciation for the hard work and the skill set it takes.”

He called the rejected proposal “excellent” and referenced recently ratified contracts with other patrol unions at Vail Resorts.