Large-scale ski patrol work stoppage in Park City leads to closure of majority of America's largest ski zone.
Large-scale ski patrol work stoppage in Park City leads to closure of majority of America's largest ski zone.
Recent discussions ensued once more on Friday between Vail Resorts, the proprietor of Park City and over 40 additional resorts within North America, Europe, and Australia, and the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association, representing approximately 200 patrol members and mountain safety personnel who undertake tasks such as administering first aid and rescue, executing avalanche mitigation, and assisting guests in various capacities. The union reported experiencing insufficient advancement following ten months of negotiations, prompting their decision to continue their work hiatus.
As a result, merely 99 of Park City's 350 trails were accessible, as per the resort's real-time tracking system on Saturday. The number of open trails increased from 81 on Friday and a paltry 50 in the early part of the week. Only 26 of 41 lifts were operational, with resort management enlisting supervisors and non-union ski patrol personnel from other of its resorts to augment coverage, ensuring minimal accessibility for the sizeable crowd.
"We're opening up the terrain that we can safely operate with the staff we currently have," explained Sarah Huey, Vail Resorts' spokesperson.
Huey elected to stay mum on this week's visitor numbers, including any comparisons to preceding years. Nevertheless, certain social media users have voiced their displeasure about extended wait times at the operating lifts. The ski region publicized a total of 31 inches of snowfall within the last seven days, which would conventionally be a boon for skiers. However, given the restricted terrain, these newfound snowfall amounts only unwittingly precipitated frustration among social media users. With a diminished workforce, much of the fresh snow remained unsuitable for skiing due to a lack of avalanche mitigation efforts.
Management disclosed having increased ski patrol wages by 50% over the past four years, thus averaging an hourly wage of $25. The union is currently in contract negotiations, with management proposing an approximate 4% wage increase. Huey revealed that this raise, translating to an extra dollar an hour, would be offered.
However, the union contends that this increment is inadequate given the skyrocketing cost of living in and around the Park City area, renowned for its affluent visitors and annual hosting of the Sundance Film Festival.
"They have substantially boosted wages. But going from $13 an hour to $21 is rather amusing," said Quinn Graves, one of the union's business managers and a seasoned fourth-year ski patroller. "Nobody could make ends meet in a mountain town with a wage of $21 an hour."
Graves asserted that the present $21-an-hour minimum wage, set two years prior, should already be escalated to $23, just to account for the ravages of inflation. She argued that the union's demands would only add an extra $900,000 annually to Vail Resorts' expenditures, a reasonably minor sum given the company's fiscal year net income of $230.4 million.
In addition to wage increases, the union advocates for enhanced longevity pay for more seasoned workers, longer contract tenures than the two-year agreements of yore, improved benefits, and augmented educational opportunities. Ski patrol members are required to possess at least emergency medical technician certifications, and many of them are paramedics, nurses, or even medical professionals.
The strike commenced on December 27th. Graves indicated that this time of year—marked by a surge in demand for skiing—typically represents one of the busiest periods. Huey declined to confirm this, but it is worth noting that this particular week sees the exclusion of a cost-effective region-exclusive season pass for local residents.
Vail Resorts' shares (MTN) have witnessed a 6% decline since the work stoppage's initiation, albeit moderately rebounding by 2% in Friday's trading.
Despite the 6% decline in Vail Resorts' shares since the work stoppage, the company is still making significant profits with a fiscal year net income of $230.4 million. The strike by the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association, demanding wage increases and improved benefits, has left only 99 of the 350 trails accessible at Park City, leading to extended wait times at the operating lifts. This has resulted in some social media users expressing their dissatisfaction with the current situation.