A distinct sort of line is inflicting chaos for guests to Park Metropolis Mountain Resort, Utah, this week, one of many season’s busiest weeks. Picket strains, not elevate strains, have greeted company on the resort after ski patrollers downed instruments and went on strike. The resort introduced this morning that elevate tickets is not going to be on sale right this moment.
The Park Metropolis Skilled Ski Patrol Affiliation (PCPSPA), representing practically 200 patrollers and mountain security employees, initiated the strike on Friday, December 27, after contract negotiations with Vail Resorts broke down. On the coronary heart of the dispute are wages and advantages, with the union searching for to boost the bottom wage from $21 to $23 per hour to maintain tempo with inflation.
PCPSPA launched the next assertion on Friday, December 27:
“This morning, at 7:30 am, our membership hung up their jackets and walked out of the locker room and shaped a picket line in solidarity to amplify our struggle for higher wages and dealing circumstances.
Vail Resorts pressured this walkout by bargaining in unhealthy religion and repeatedly violating the Nationwide Labor Relations Act. In step with Vail’s unhealthy religion ways, after yesterday’s seven hour negotiation session with a mediator current, the corporate continued to refuse to present a counteroffer on wages or advantages. They’ve had two weeks to arrange a counter proposal.
A number of unfair labor fees have been filed in opposition to Vail all through this bargaining course of. Moreover, the corporate continues to impose their anti-worker technique by flying in scabs relatively than coming to the desk with an inexpensive supply.
We’re asking all of you to point out your help by halting spending at Vail Resorts properties in the course of this strike. Don’t buy day tickets or meals from Vail owned eating. Don’t use Vail-owned rental retailers or retail shops. Don’t remain in Vail-owned motels. As a substitute, purchase and help native companies!
We did all the things in our energy to keep away from this work stoppage. Our aim has been and continues to be to safe a good contract.”
– Park Metropolis Skilled Ski Patrol Affiliation, 12/27/24
Vail Resorts argues that it has invested considerably in its patrol employees, citing a greater than 50% wage improve over the previous 4 seasons. Nonetheless, the union contends that the corporate has did not current counteroffers on wages or advantages for over two weeks, resulting in the present standoff.
The timing of the strike couldn’t be worse for the resort. Park Metropolis Mountain usually operates at full capability throughout this era. Right this moment, on the fourth day of the strike, solely 18% of the mountain is open to company, with simply 45 out of 350 trails (13%) and 18 out of 41 (44%) lifts operational. Carry availability at Canyons Village can be restricted right this moment, with Excessive Meadow, Crimson Pine Gondola, Over and Out, Timberline, Iron Mountain, Frostwood Gondola, and Cabriolet open.
Deirdra Walsh, vice chairman and chief working officer of Park Metropolis Mountain, expressed disappointment within the union’s resolution to strike through the vacation season however assured guests that the resort would stay open. Vail Resorts has deployed a “Patrol Assist Crew,” consisting of skilled patrollers from Park Metropolis Mountain and different Vail-owned resorts to take care of operations.
“We’re deeply disillusioned the patrol union has walked out of mediation and chosen drastic motion that makes an attempt to disrupt mountain operations in the course of the vacation season, given we invested considerably in patrol with their wages growing greater than 50% over the previous 4 seasons, and we’ve reached agreements on 24 of the 27 present contract phrases.
We need to reassure skiers and snowboarders, our workers, and this group that regardless of the union’s actions, Park Metropolis Mountain will stay open with security as our high precedence, and all deliberate terrain shall be open due to skilled patrol leaders from Park Metropolis Mountain and our different mountain resorts.
Along with the over 50% improve in wages over the previous 4 seasons, the present Park Metropolis Mountain patrol proposal will increase wages one other 4% for almost all of patrollers and gives $1,600 per patroller for tools.
Once more, we’re shocked by the union’s motion given we had deliberate for a full day of productive mediation right this moment earlier than they walked out. Sadly, that won’t go ahead as deliberate, as our negotiating staff should now shift focus right this moment to operational continuity. We stay dedicated to reaching an settlement.”
– Deirdra Walsh, VP & COO for Park Metropolis Mountain
The Patrol Assist Crew has allowed the resort to maintain its doorways open, but it surely has additionally led to skiers and snowboarders, probably paying greater than $300 a day, dealing with restricted terrain and longer elevate strains.
The poor snow begin to the season hasn’t helped operations. Park Metropolis’s snowpack is at present 68% of regular. Nonetheless, neighboring Deer Valley has 53% of its terrain open, 19 of 24 lifts open, and greater than half its trails open.
We lately had the PCPSPA management staff on our podcast, which can go reside tomorrow, Tuesday, December 31.
