Key Takeaways:
- The Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado has closed due to a labor dispute with the ski patrol union over wages.
- The ski patrol union is seeking a wage increase to account for the high cost of living in Telluride, with the average rent being 318% higher than the national average.
- The resort’s management has refused to negotiate, leading to the strike and closure of the resort.
- The ski patrol union has reduced its contract demands, but the resort’s management has not made any concessions.
- The dispute is part of a larger trend of labor disputes between ski resorts and their ski patrol unions, with other resorts in Utah and Colorado having recently reached deals with their unions.
Introduction to the Labor Dispute
The Telluride Ski Resort in Mountain Village, Colorado, was forced to close its doors on Saturday due to a labor dispute with the ski patrol union over wages. The resort’s management had announced the pending closure on Wednesday, citing the union’s decision to strike as the reason for the shutdown. The Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association, which represents the resort’s ski patrollers, had been negotiating with the resort’s management for months, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement. The union is seeking a wage increase to account for the high cost of living in Telluride, where the average rent is $8,342 per month, or 318% higher than the national average.
The Role of Ski Patrollers
Ski patrollers play a critical role in ensuring the safety of skiers and snowboarders at the resort. They are specially trained rescue workers who hike, ski, or snowmobile to injured skiers, treating their injuries and often bringing them off the mountain to a separate area for more advanced medical care or transportation to a hospital. Many patrol members hold EMT or paramedic certifications or certifications in specialized evacuation techniques. Some ski patrollers are even further specialized, intentionally triggering avalanches using explosives before resort areas open for the season to prevent avalanches from happening when skiers are present. The ski patrol association is seeking a wage increase to reflect the high level of skill and training required for these roles.
The Dispute Over Wages
The ski patrol association is seeking a wage increase to account for the high cost of living in Telluride. According to the union, ski patrollers in Telluride make a minimum of $21 per hour, with supervisors making an average of about $38.17 per hour, or about $43,680 to $79,393 per year, before taxes. The union is seeking a wage increase to bring these salaries more in line with the cost of living in Telluride. The resort’s management, however, has refused to negotiate, saying that the union’s demands are unreasonable. The union has reduced its contract demands, including reducing the wage expectations and no longer asking for healthcare or an increased stipend for equipment, but the resort’s management has not made any concessions.
The Impact of the Closure
The closure of the Telluride Ski Resort is having a significant impact on the local community. The resort is a major employer in the area, and the closure is affecting not only the ski patrollers but also other resort employees and local businesses. The ski patrol association has said that the resort’s management is retaliating against the union by closing the resort, and that the decision will have a disastrous impact on the community. The resort’s owner, Chuck Horning, has said that he is disappointed that the patrollers would walk off the job during one of the busiest times of the year, but the union has said that it had no choice but to strike in order to bring attention to the issue of low wages.
The Larger Trend of Labor Disputes
The dispute between the Telluride Ski Resort and its ski patrol union is part of a larger trend of labor disputes between ski resorts and their ski patrol unions. In January, a Park City Mountain Resort patroller strike in Utah earned them higher wages and benefits, and in February, Keystone Resort reached a deal with its ski patrol union for higher wages. The ski patrol association has said that it is seeking a fair wage and a sustainable program, and that it will continue to fight for the rights of its members. The dispute highlights the challenges faced by ski resorts in attracting and retaining skilled employees, particularly in areas with high costs of living. As the ski industry continues to evolve, it is likely that labor disputes will become more common, and resorts will need to find ways to balance their budgets with the needs of their employees.