CWA Ski Patrollers Win Contract, End Strike at Park City Mountain

Ski patrollers with the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA-CWA Local 7781) have ratified a new union contract with Vail Resorts. The contract raises wages by an average of $4/hour and guarantees the workers wage parity if wages are raised at other non-unionized Vail Resorts. The contract covers more than 200 ski patrollers and mountain safety personnel at the country’s largest ski resort.

After almost ten months of bargaining, the Park City patrollers went on strike over unfair labor practices on December 27. During the 12-day strike, resort guests voiced their support for the striking workers, chanting, “Pay your workers,” as ski lift lines had hours-long wait times and Vail Resorts could keep only 17% of the resort’s terrain open.

“The road to this agreement was anything but easy. Negotiating with Vail Resorts has been an incredibly challenging process, marked by months of persistence and dedication from our board, negotiators, and union members. This contract is more than just a win for our team—it’s a groundbreaking success in the ski and mountain worker industry. This effort demonstrates what can be achieved when workers stand together and fight for what they deserve,” said Seth Dromgoole, lead negotiator and 17-year patroller.

Park City ski patrollers were supported by union ski patrollers across Colorado, with CWA units from Breckenridge, Crested Butte, and Keystone joining a letter with Park City patrollers to hold Vail Resorts accountable for attempts to recruit scab workers from other Colorado ski resorts. Union patrollers with the Keystone Ski Patrol Union (KSPU-CWA Local 7781) are also in negotiations with Vail Resorts and took their first collective action in support of bargaining last month with a walk-in to demonstrate their solidarity and the patrol’s ability to mobilize for a fair contract.

CWA has led the fight for a fair and sustainable ski industry, with a union movement that has grown from four union ski resorts five years ago to 16 bargaining units today. CWA Local 7781 represents nearly 1,100 mountain workers, including ski patrollers, lift mechanics, and mountain safety personnel.