Park City Ski Patrol strike GoFundMe raises over $205,000 as wage increase demands impacts resort operations

Following a months-long effort to increase wages turned futile, Park City Ski Patrol went on strike last month. The walkout has now impacted resort operations at the ski mountain owned by Vail Resorts, which has already been dealing with a lack of snowfall.

As reported by Sportico, on an hourly basis, the Park City Ski Patrol receives $21 starting, though the agency is asking for it to be increased to $23 an hour. As the outlet has pointed out, a one-day lift ticket on the mountain will set you back $328, while a hamburger costs $25. The strike began on December 27, when over 200 patrollers rallied to form a picket line.

---

Everything to know about the Park City Ski Patrol strike as the agency says they refuse to back down until their demands are met

In the wake of the strike, the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) has since launched a GoFundMe to ease the financial strains of its patrollers.

It states that the agency has been negotiating with Vail Resorts since April with the hope of securing a contract that fairly compensates our Ski Patrol and Mountain Safety teams while addressing the rising cost of living in the Wasatch region," to no avail. It also notes that the effort is not just about compensation, it's about "ensuring respect and safety for all mountain workers."

Furthermore, per the GoFundMe page, should Vail Resorts decline to negotiate "in good faith," the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association will be looking at "the possibility of a work stoppage." Per the page, several of the agency's workers survive paycheck to paycheck. Should the work come to a halt, "CWA will only issue funds at $300/week to members ON DAY 15 of a strike."

This fund, in turn, "lessens the stress of members in having to choose between crossing a picket line for a paycheck vs supporting their peers. If we are able to raise $100,000. Between our almost 200 Patrollers this will mean $500/Person."

The page also clearly outlines the goal of the agency, noting that they are "negotiating to establish an entry-level base rate of $23/hour". The current entry-level rate adjusted for inflation since March 2022. The goal also intends to "Implement a wage structure that properly rewards skilled and experienced patrollers and addresses wage compression," and "enhance benefits and educational opportunities for all members."

At the time of writing, out of the $400,000 goal, about $255,596 has been raised. With alms coming in from over 3K patrons, the initiative has about 36% to go to meet its goals.

Bill Rock, president of Vail Resorts’ mountain division, said in a statement, per Sportico:

"We are proud of the significant investments we have made into all of our employees, including patrol, which have far outpaced inflation."

In a statement to Powder magazine, the Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association doubled down on their stance, saying:

“We refuse to have every piece of our proposals shot down by the company while they continue to use our labor to rake in profits over the holiday season.”

---

Vail Resorts spearheads the operations of 42 ski mountains, including Vail, Breckenridge, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb, and Stowe. Per the GoFundMe, if the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association does not utilize the funds raised, all of the proceeds "will go towards sustaining and growing our union, supporting mountain worker solidarity, and contributing to our local community."