Park City ski patrol on strike, labor board complaints accuse Vail Resorts of ‘coercive’ practices

SALT LAKE CITY — Complaints filed with the National Labor Relations Board accused Vail Resorts of coercive labor practices. Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association filed them just 10 days before Park City Mountain ski patrollers went on strike. 

Park City Mountain Resort ski patrollers exchanged their skis for picketing signs on Friday morning. Their decision came after months of failed negotiation efforts to negotiate a better contract with Vail Resorts.

In an Instagram post, PCPSPA said it’s been working for months to secure higher wages for patrollers. Specifically, it want increased pay for those with more experience. Additionally, it is seeking increased patroller benefits. 

“Our proposal is rooted in economic data and market comparisons of other ski patrols,” read the post’s caption. “Building a more skilled and experienced patrol will improve the safety for everyone at this resort and the ski industry at large.” 

PCPSPA’s Dec. 17 complaint, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, alleged that Vail Resorts engaged in coercive, interrogative and surveillance behaviors. 

Additional complaints were filed on Dec. 16. They alleged that Vail Resorts refused to bargain, provide information to employees, and engaged in repudiation.

Similar complaints against the company have previously been filed by United Professional Ski Patrollers of America.

Vail confident it has bargained ‘in good faith’

“We are confident we have always bargained in good faith, complied with all labor laws, and demonstrated our great respect for our patrollers,” wrote Sara Huey, community and government affairs director for PCMR and other Vail properties, in response to the NLRB complaints. 

According to Huey, Vail Resorts is looking forward to resuming mediated contract negotiation today. 

PCPSPA’s previous statements disagreed with Huey’s.

“Consistent with Vail Resort’s bad faith tactics, the company has refused to give a counteroffer on wages or benefits in the last 2 weeks,” said PCPSPA. 

The group is asking community members to avoid patronizing Vail-owned businesses, such as dining locations at the resort’s bases, ski and snowboard rental and maintenance services and hotel properties. 

“While we are on strike: don’t buy day tickets, don’t purchase food from the lodges, don’t use Vail-owned tune and rental shops, don’t stay at Vail Resorts-owned lodging,” said PCPSPA Business Manager Quinn Graves. 

A statement from Park City Mountain Resort Chief Operating Officer and Vice President Dierdra Walsh said that Vail Resorts was prepared for mediated negotiations last Friday. However, plans changed when the patrollers hung up their coats. 

“Our next scheduled mediation was for Thursday, and we were so pleased to learn this morning that the federal mediator has provided us with additional dates, and we will be meeting with her and the union this afternoon and tomorrow. We remain committed to reaching an agreement,” said Walsh. 

Has the strike impacted resort holiday operations?

Emily McDonald, the communications manager for Park City Mountain Resort, said that run openings were consistent with this year’s weather conditions. 

Open ski runs remained crowded throughout Sunday morning. Similarly, base areas were congested. 

Ski patrollers are responsible for far more than just on-mountain emergency services. They also wake up early to perform avalanche mitigation efforts and verify that newly opening terrain is safe for guests. 

An Instagram post by PCPSPA said that union members were scheduled to work on several lifts that remained closed over the weekend. 

On Monday morning, Park City Mountain Resort reported that 19 of its lifts were opening. Additionally, Quicksilver, the gondola connecting the resort’s two sides, remained on hold. 

Although PCMR is larger than its nearest competitor, Deer Valley, both of the Park City resorts have been subjected to similar early-season weather conditions. On Monday morning, Deer Valley reported the majority of its lifts were spinning. 

Vail Resorts responds to the strike

Walsh called the strike “disappointing” and “drastic.” 

“We are deeply disappointed the patrol union has walked away from mediation and chosen drastic action that attempts to disrupt mountain operations in the middle of the holiday season, given we invested significantly in patrol with their wages increasing more than 50% over past four seasons, and we have reached agreements on 24 of the 27 current contract terms,” said Walsh.

According to Walsh, current proposals would include an additional 4% pay increase “for the majority of patrollers” and provide a $1,600 gear stipend to each team member. 

Additionally, Walsh said the resort will remain open during the strike. 

“All planned terrain will be open thanks to patrol leaders from Park City Mountain and our other mountain resorts,” said Walsh. 

PCPSPA previously said that Vail Resorts was sending strikebreakers, also known as scabs, to Park City Mountain. The union said some of the personnel have inadequate patroller training. 

It is unknown which areas the scabs are coming from. 

Regardless of experience, scabs are likely to be unfamiliar with the resort. Unfamiliarity can lead to longer wait times during emergencies and inefficient resort operations. 

Related: Park City ski patrol union officially on strike after Vail Resorts ‘refused counteroffer’