In the end, ski patrollers at Park City Mountain earned more than $2 an hour.
Members of the Park City Mountain Pro Ski Patrol Association voted Wednesday to accept a contract offered by Vail Resorts after 10 months of negotiations and nearly two weeks of strikes. A statement released by the union on Wednesday night did not say how many votes were cast, only that it had passed.
“The ratification of this contract, after 10 months of lengthy negotiations, is a step toward strengthening our patrol and mountain safety teams and fostering a safer and more financially sustainable workplace,” union members said. Chief Kate Lipps, who served as a patrol officer for seven years, said in a statement.
The union and Park City Mountain’s parent company, Vail Resorts, have struggled for months to bridge the gap on the last three of a total of 27 contract provisions. These articles concerned benefits such as parental leave, medical benefits during the work month, and pay for experienced and novice patrollers. One of the demands the union put forward was a $2 increase for entry-level patrol officers, from $21 to $23.
Chaos descended on Park City Mountain on Dec. 27, when about 200 patrol officers went on strike amid holiday crowds and the first of a series of snowstorms. Anecdotes of long lines, a lack of open terrain, and slow or inadequate response to emergencies due to insufficient patrol personnel worried many skiers and snowboarders who visited the mountain. And when those guests vented their frustrations on social media and in the comments section of their stories, Vail Resorts’ perceived reluctance to agree to its price hikes was the most criticized issue. .
But once the ink was dry, the patrolman had a starting amount of $2. He also won “significant increases” for patrol officers during his tenure. According to a union statement, this includes an average increase of $4 an hour, while snow safety specialists and most experienced patrol officers who perform dangerous duties such as avalanche removal will receive an average increase of $7.75 an hour. It is said to become. “The pay structure has also been restructured to foster long-term career growth and ensure the retention of highly skilled patrol officers,” the union said in a statement.
In terms of benefits, patrol officers have secured parental leave as well as educational opportunities. The statement did not mention stipends for medical expenses or equipment.
Bill Locke, president of Vail Resorts’ mountain division, said in a news release that the terms of the contract “comply with our wages for all patrol officers, both non-union and unionized.” “It is consistent with the system and takes into account its unique terrain and avalanche complexity.” Park City Mountain.
“We look forward to welcoming Park City Mountain Patrolmen back in the coming days and moving forward together as one team.”
The union began contract negotiations in March, a month before the previous contract was set to expire. In late December, both parties agreed to mediation. They met with mediators most days last week and on Monday and Tuesday of this week while patrolmen were on strike.
(Francisco Djorses | Salt Lake Tribune) Park City ski patrollers will officially go on strike on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, citing unfair labor practices, and will fight with Park City Mountain and its owner, Vail Resorts. marks the latest chapter in union negotiations.
However, the patrol appeared poised to extend the strike if necessary. The Go Fund Me they set up as a strike fund raised more than $300,000 in donations in 12 days. If the strike had lasted three more days, the patrolmen would have received $300 a month from the Communications Workers of America.
But late Tuesday night, the union and Vail Resorts negotiators finally reached an agreement.
“The road to this agreement was not an easy one,” Seth Dromgoole, a 17-year patrolman and the union’s chief negotiator, said in a statement. “Negotiations with Vail Resorts have been an incredibly difficult process, characterized by months of tenacity and dedication from our board of directors, negotiators, and union members.
“This contract is not just a victory for our team, but a landmark success in the ski and mountaineering industry.”
Patrolmen said they plan to return to work on the mountain Thursday. Park City Mountain said in a statement that it expects to begin exploring more terrain as it resumes operations. Priorities include Tombstone, Dream Peak, and McConkey’s. During the holiday, Park City Mountain only had 17% to 30% of its slopes open, while most other ski areas in Utah had 50% to 90% open.
