Park Metropolis Mountain Resort, Utah, continues going through unprecedented challenges right this moment because the strike by the Park Metropolis Skilled Ski Patrol Affiliation (PCPSPA) strikes into its twelfth day. PCPSPA went on strike on December 27, citing a breakdown in contract negotiations with Vail Resorts. With practically 200 patrollers strolling off the job over disputes surrounding wages and advantages, the strike has left the resort working at a fraction of its normal capability in the midst of the height vacation season.
In an open letter in The Park File, Park Metropolis Mountain Resort COO Deirdra Walsh addressed the strike and its impression, emphasizing the corporate’s dedication to making sure visitor security and operational continuity, and claiming there may be lots of misinformation surrounding the negotiations.
The full letter is under:
Snowboarding and snowboarding are such an necessary a part of our neighborhood. At Park Metropolis Mountain, we’re deeply dedicated to displaying up day by day, working arduous to carry our mountain to life for our visitors and the neighborhood. And once we fall brief, irrespective of the trigger, we don’t take it frivolously.
I do know the expertise on the mountain over the height vacation interval was irritating for our skiers and riders. On behalf of the resort, I wish to apologize to everybody that we haven’t been capable of open the terrain we had hoped for by now and that the road wait occasions had been longer than normal through the peak vacation due to the ski patrol union strike. This was not the vacation snowboarding and driving expertise anybody needed, and we all know that.
However what we’re doing is opening the terrain we will safely open with the folks we’ve got every day through the strike. We attempt for transparency on operations. And the reality is that in this unprecedented time, every day is dynamic, and we’re doing the most effective we will to maintain visitors knowledgeable.
What I additionally know is that the dedication from our working patrol staff proper now’s nothing wanting outstanding. It’s heartbreaking to see not simply them, however all our workers, placing up with relentless harassment on-line and in particular person that’s completely shameful. They don’t deserve it, and it must cease.
No one wins in a strike.
Over the months of negotiations with the patrol, we did make progress. We had agreed to 24 of the 27 contract objects the union opened.
Conversations weren’t at all times straightforward, however they had been respectful. After we each agreed we weren’t making progress on the remaining articles, we each agreed to mediation. And we had been dedicated to the method that goes with it.
We had three mediation periods scheduled for Dec. 26 and 27, and Jan. 2, based mostly on the assigned mediator’s availability. The union made the selection to stroll out after simply the primary session as a result of they knew that’s when it will impression the expertise most. We by no means walked away.
By selecting to strike through the peak vacation, the union harm their fellow workers, skiers and snowboarders, and their neighbors.
Folks have requested, “Can’t you simply pay patrol $2/hour extra?” It’s by no means been about $2. There’s lots of misinformation surrounding these negotiations.
First, please know: We care deeply concerning the work of our ski patrol; we’ve got invested quite a bit in them and can proceed to. Second, they’re asking for far more than $2/ hour. The truth is, on the day they went on strike, their calls for equaled $7/hour extra. Lastly, it’s best to know that we’ve got come to the desk with compelling affords.
Nonetheless, we stay dedicated to reaching an settlement that demonstrates our respect for them. Each negotiation groups met with the mediators 4 days final week, and extra mediation is scheduled for this week. That’s progress in the direction of an settlement. And when this ends, we are going to transfer ahead collectively as a result of that’s who we’re as a staff.
Within the meantime, I’ve one ask: Please be sort to the people who find themselves working so arduous to maintain the mountain open. The harassment that our workers have been subjected to over the previous two weeks just isn’t within the spirit of our neighborhood’s values.
