[UPDATED] Vail Resorts and Park Metropolis Skilled Ski Patrol Affiliation Attain Definitive Settlement to Finish Strike

[Updated 6:10 a.m. MST, January 8, 2024]

In a joint assertion Tuesday night time, Vail Resorts and the Park Metropolis Skilled Ski Patrol Affiliation (PCPSPA) introduced that they’ve reached a tentative settlement on a contract for the resort’s ski patrol and security staff, hopefully ending the strike.

Park Metropolis Mountain, Utah, ski patrol went on strike on December 27, making as we speak the thirteenth day of the strike. They’re demanding higher wages and advantages. The union is in search of a $2 per-hour elevate from $21 to $23 base wage, arguing that present wages are inadequate for residing in an costly mountain city.

The PCPSPA will vote on the settlement as we speak, Wednesday, January 8. If agreed to, the brand new contract will probably be legitimate by means of April 2027.

“Park Metropolis Mountain and the Park Metropolis Skilled Ski Patrol Affiliation (PCPSPA) are happy to announce that they’ve reached a brand new tentative settlement by means of April 2027. The Union’s bargaining committee is unanimously endorsing ratification by its unit, with a vote scheduled to happen on January 8. The tentative settlement addresses each events’ pursuits and can finish the present strike. Everybody appears ahead to restoring regular resort operations and transferring ahead collectively as one workforce. Till contract ratification, neither get together will probably be accepting media requests.”

– Joint assertion

Then on Wednesday, January 8, a consultant from Vail Resorts knowledgeable SnowBrains {that a} definitive settlement had been reached between the company and the PCPSPA.

“Park Metropolis Mountain has reached an settlement with the Park Metropolis ski patrol union that’s in keeping with our firm’s wage construction for all patrollers, non-unionized and unionized, whereas accounting for the distinctive terrain and avalanche complexity of Park Metropolis Mountain. We sit up for welcoming again the Park Metropolis Mountain patrollers within the coming days and transferring ahead collectively as one workforce. We apologize to our visitors who have been impacted by this strike and are extremely grateful to our workforce who labored onerous to maintain the mountain open and working safely over the previous two weeks.”

– Invoice Rock, President of Vail Resorts’ Mountain Division

The phrases of the settlement are unlikely to be shared. Nonetheless, earlier stories from Park Metropolis Mountain Resort’s administration claimed they supplied truthful phrases, together with a 50% wage improve over the past 4 years, a proposal with a $1,600 gear allowance, and a 4% improve. The typical seasonal patroller wage is over $25 per hour, and skilled patrollers earn 35% greater than entry-level positions.

The strike and poor snow have impacted operations at Park Metropolis Mountain over the vacations, the busiest time of the yr. The strike considerably lowered the variety of patrollers on the mountain from 120 to 30-40 per day, affecting raise strains and terrain accessibility. Whereas the union asserted that negotiations have been ongoing for months, resort administration expressed disappointment over the strike. Regardless of the continued dispute, either side confirmed the need to succeed in an settlement, with the resort emphasizing its dedication to secure operations through the busy vacation season. An finish to the strike could be a welcome aid to each events.