Park City Mountain ski patrol returns to work

News | Jan 10, 2025

Klara Meyer
Park Record

**Park City Mountain ski patrollers picket at Canyons Village on Friday.**
*Clayton Steward / Park Record*

The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association announced they will return to work Thursday following a 100% ratification vote on their new contract that will last through April 2027.

“This puts an end to this historic strike at the largest ski resort in the U.S.,” the union said on Wednesday. “Tomorrow … we are excited to return to work! This is more than just a win for our unit, it is a great success for everyone in the ski and mountain industry. This is a clear example of what can be achieved when workers stand together and fight for what we deserve.”

Bill Rock, president of the mountain division at Vail Resorts, said that the agreement remains within the current wage structure across all of Vail Resorts patrol units.

“Park City Mountain has reached an agreement with the Park City ski patrol union that is consistent with our company’s wage structure for all patrollers, non-unionized and unionized, while accounting for the unique terrain and avalanche complexity of Park City Mountain. We look forward to welcoming back the Park City Mountain patrollers in the coming days and moving forward together as one team,” said Rock.

The union also expressed gratitude and appreciation for community support throughout the strike.

“We are proud. We are grateful. We are united,” said the union.

The union said their new contract addresses the unit’s primary concerns, including:

Raising the floor: The starting wage for all entry-level patrollers and mountain safety personnel has been increased by $2 per hour, ensuring better compensation for new hires.
Addressing wage compression: Tenured patrollers, whose experience and skills are invaluable, will see substantial increases. The average wage increase across the unit is $4 per hour, with some of the most experienced roles, such as snow safety specialists, receiving an average increase of $7.75 per hour.
Improved benefits: The contract includes enhanced parental leave policies and industry-leading educational opportunities, reflecting the value of work-life balance and professional development.
Incentivized retention and career growth: Secured a restructured wage scale designed to encourage long-term career growth and ensure the retention of highly skilled patrollers.
Wage parity with non-unionized Vail Resorts.

“The union looks forward to fostering a productive and collaborative relationship with Park City Mountain and Vail Resorts in the future,” said union leaders on Wednesday.

Having addressed community concerns surrounding the work stoppage Monday, Mayor Nann Worel expressed hope and gratitude for the conclusion of the strike and the ratification of the latest contract on Wednesday.

“Today, we thank and applaud Vail Resorts and the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association for their mutual commitment to addressing workers’ concerns and finding a solution that supports our local economy and resort operations. The council and I are relieved and grateful for the strike’s resolution. This challenging time has highlighted the power of civility and mutual respect in overcoming our issues. We recognize and appreciate the hard work of everyone involved, especially the local resort leadership team, in bringing this to a successful conclusion,” said Worel.

Rock announced the agreement in a long letter Wednesday night to Vail Resorts employees praising them all for their work during the holiday peak season across the company’s 42 ski resorts.

“I know it’s difficult to see conflict within our own team,” he wrote. “We remain committed to continually investing in the employee experience — not just for one team, but for all 55,000 employees who we are grateful to have at Vail Resorts.”

This is a developing article. It will be updated.