Slippery Slopes Ahead for Utah Ski Resort Due to Workers’ Strike
A luxury skiing experience at Utah’s Park City Resort has been disrupted by a workers’ strike, leaving guests furious with three-hour wait times for ski lifts. The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) is demanding a living wage from the resort’s owner, Vail Resorts, amid concerns about employees’ financial stability.
As the strike enters its third week, visitors are growing increasingly frustrated, with some having to wait up to three hours to hit the slopes. A recent visitor, Peter Nystrom, spent $20,000 to visit Park City with his family, only to experience the monumental delays. “Longest lines ever. No excuse. Operational and managerial fail during the busiest week of the year,” he tweeted.
Photos and videos show long lines of skiers waiting to be transported up the mountain, with some chanting “pay your employees” in solidarity with the striking ski patrollers. Vacationer Amy Clinkenbeard spent $10,000 on a family trip and was left devastated by the wasted vacation, calling the situation “abysmal.”
The strike is largely attributed to a proposal by the PCPSPA for a $2 hourly base wage increase, from $21 to $23, which Vail refused to consider. The patrollers have received over $250,000 in donations for their strike fund on GoFundMe. Vail’s president, Bill Rock, emphasized the company’s commitment to reaching an agreement, but insisted they are paying their employees more than a fair share.
As the strike continues to affect business at the resort, it remains unclear when an agreement will be reached, leaving many wondering whether this is a matter of employees being paid what they deserve or just a negotiating tactic.