Park City Mountain operates at 17% capacity during patrollers’ strike

Members of the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association rally on the picket line during their second day of striking, demanding fair contract negotiations with Vail Resorts Photo: Rebecca Brenner

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) strike, now in its second day, has garnered national attention as patrollers demand fair contract negotiations with Vail Resorts, Inc (NYSE:MTN).

Deirdra Walsh, vice president and chief operating officer for Park City Mountain said “Regardless of the union’s actions, Park City Mountain will be open in support of skiers and snowboarders, all our employees, and our community, thanks to our strong team of highly experienced patrollers from Park City Mountain and our other mountain resorts.”

Walsh went on to say “We are incredibly disappointed the union requested mediation and then walked away from mediation after the first meeting in a drastic action to strike and attempt disruption during the holidays.” The union claims that Vail Resorts has failed to present counteroffers on wages or benefits for over two weeks, citing alleged stall tactics that prompted them to walk out of negotiations and go on strike.

On the second day of the strike, Park City Mountain’s Lift and Terrain Status page reported that 17% of the mountain was open to guests, with 60 out of 350 trails and 25 out of 41 lifts operational. Neighboring Deer Valley Resort reported 50% of its terrain open, with 61 out of 123 runs and 19 out of 24 lifts available. While both resorts have similar acreage currently open, Park City is one of the largest resorts in the U.S., with 7,300 skiable acres, compared to Deer Valley’s 2,026 acres prior to the forthcoming East Village expansion. Park City Mountain has received 13 inches of snow in the last 48 hours. Utah has experienced a slow start to snowfall this season, with Park City’s snowpack reaching a 30-year record low on Dec. 23.

Union members claimed in a press release “the resort chose to operate with a fraction of ski patrollers and mountain safety personnel than would normally be on the mountain, and opened only a fraction of the terrain that would normally be open given the recent snow.

Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) shared that on a given day of operations 100+ ski patrollers and mountain safety employees were sent to work at both base areas. The Union claims that 30-35 employees were sent to open the mountain during the active labor strike.

A representative for Park City Mountain discussed today’s operations with TownLift, stating that “we were pleased to get the majority of our lifts for today open on time or early, including Quicksilver Gondola; added 100 acres of additional terrain since yesterday; and opened Mid-Mountain Lodge for the season. ”

Emmet Murray, a member of the PCPSPA Executive Board emphasized the resolve of the ski patrollers. “It’s not easy being out here on the picket line,” he said. “I’d much rather be up on the hill, getting trained on areas like 99 and Jupiter or working to open the Dream Terrain that could be available. But instead, we’re out here because it’s the right thing to do.”

The Union says “Our skis are in our cars and we are ready to go back to work as soon as Vail gives us a fair offer.”

 

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The next mediated negotiation session is scheduled for January 2.

Walsh, highlighted recent wage increases in a statement to TownLift, “We are proud of the significant investments we have made in patrol, increasing their wages 50% in four years to more than $25/hour on average.” Walsh went on say, “We sincerely hope the union will realize that focusing on solutions at the bargaining table is in the best interest of everyone.”

The Union says starting wages were raised to $21 per hour in 2022, but due to rising costs they seek a $23 starting wage today.

Murray voiced frustration over the stalled negotiations, “The company hasn’t been bargaining in good faith with us. They’ve been delaying. We currently have multiple Unfair Labor Practice charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board.”

Murray reiterated the PCPSPA’s primary goal of returning to work under a fair contract, “We want to be back on the mountain doing what we love—keeping the community safe and helping guests enjoy their time here. We’re ready to go back to work the second we get a fair contract and Vail starts negotiating in good faith. We love this community and are so grateful for the incredible support we’ve received—whether it’s donations, food, or even just honking your horns as you pass by. It’s not easy being out here, but knowing the community has our back makes all the difference.”

The strike, described by Murray as an “indefinite ULP strike,” will continue daily until the company resumes negotiations.