Park City Mayor urges Vail Resorts to resolve labor dispute

File photo, Park City Mayor-elect Nann Worel speaks at a Veterans Day event. Photo: Tanzi Propst // Park City Municipal

'Park City Mountain is a cornerstone of Park City’s community well-being, and it is Vail Resorts’ responsibility as an essential employer to resolve this conflict without further delay.'

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Mayor Nann Worel, on behalf of the City Council, has issued a strong call for Vail Resorts to swiftly resolve the ongoing labor dispute at Park City Mountain. Mayor Worel, emphasized the importance of supporting the town’s workforce, which she described as essential to the community’s vitality.

Statement from Park City Mayor Nann Worel on behalf of the City Council

“The Park City Council and I recognize that resort communities face significant livability challenges – and it is the workforce that all too often shoulders the weight of today’s economic pressures. Supporting a professional workforce is essential to the health, safety, and vitality of our town.

After yet another weekend of confusion and disruption due to the unresolved labor dispute at Park City Mountain, the City Council and I urgently call on Vail Resorts to take immediate action to conclude negotiations and end the uncertainty.

Park City Mountain is a cornerstone of Park City’s community well-being, and it is Vail Resorts’ responsibility as an essential employer to resolve this conflict without further delay.

As we stand by ready to assist in any way necessary to help bring this matter to a resolution, we humbly ask everyone for civility and respectful behavior toward each other during this challenging time.”

The most recent statement from Deirdra Walsh, Chief Operating Officer of Park City Mountain, says “People have asked, “Can’t you just pay patrol $2/hour more?” It’s never been about 2 dollars. There’s a lot of misinformation surrounding these negotiations. First, please know; we care deeply about the work of our ski patrol; we have invested a lot in them and will continue to. Second, they are asking for much more than $2/ hour. In fact, on the day they went on strike, their demands equaled $7/hour more. Finally, you should know that we have come to the table with compelling offers.”

TownLift spoke with Margaux Klingensmith, Business Manager for the union, who provided further insight into the issues at the heart of the negotiations. While much public focus has been on the union’s push for a wage increase from $21 to $23 an hour, Klingensmith emphasized that the demands go beyond a dollar amount. “We’re fighting to keep a steady increase in wages to match inflation and avoid situations like a few years ago when wages had fallen so far behind that the company had to make a massive adjustment just to catch up,”

The union is also advocating for improved benefits, including more accessible healthcare options, holiday pay, and a more attractive overall benefits package to retain and attract skilled patrollers. One proposed solution is offering healthcare stipends to allow patrollers to maintain year-round coverage without switching providers every six months.

Park City Mountain and and the patrol union are in mediation today, January 6, and Tuesday, January 7.

Continue Reading: Park City Mountain Ski Patrol Strike