Ski Patrol Strike: Progress Made, But Not There Yet

After eight days on strike, the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association has seen some progress in negotiations with Vail Resorts. Union President Kate Lips said that recent meetings with the company and federal mediators have led to significant steps towards an agreement. The pace of talks has picked up since the strike began on December 27. In the past few days, there have been more meetings than in the previous months.The main sticking points are wages and benefits. The last contract for over 200 ski patrol and mountain safety staff expired in April 2024. While there's a tentative agreement on education and training packages, wages and benefits remain unresolved. Vail Resorts has consulted local leadership during negotiations, including Park City Mountain's Vice President and COO Deirdra Walsh and Vice President of Mountain Operations Mike Lewis. The union wants base wages raised to $23 across all U. S. resorts to account for inflation. They've been disappointed with Vail's counteroffers in the past. However, the union is now more optimistic about the negotiations. The resort continues to operate at reduced capacity, with plans to open more terrain this weekend.