Key Takeaways
- The Telluride ski area will close on December 27 due to a planned strike by ski patrollers over wage negotiations.
- The strike is a result of failed negotiations between the Telluride Ski and Golf Co. and the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association, with the patrollers seeking a median wage increase of $8 an hour.
- The closure will have a significant impact on the local community, with many businesses already bracing for the strike and discussing alternative activities for visitors.
- The strike is the second ski patroller walkout at a U.S. ski resort in the last year, following a 12-day strike at Park City Mountain Resort in late December last year.
Introduction to the Situation
The town of Telluride has a sticker that reads "Crazy is still better than corporate," suggesting that the unpredictable nature of the ski area’s owner, Chuck Horning, is preferable to ownership by a large company. However, this theory is about to be put to the test as Horning has announced that the resort will close on December 27 due to a planned strike by ski patrollers. The strike is a result of failed wage negotiations between the Telluride Ski and Golf Co. and the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association.
The Strike and Its Causes
The strike was voted on by the 78-member Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association, with all but one member voting in favor of the strike. The patrollers are seeking a three-year contract with a median wage increase of $8 an hour, while the ski area’s last offer was about $4 an hour. The difference between the two groups totals about $115,000 over the entirety of the three-year contract. The strike will mark the second ski patroller walkout at a U.S. ski resort in the last year, following a 12-day strike at Park City Mountain Resort in late December last year.
The Impact on the Local Community
The closure of the ski area will have a significant impact on the local community, with many businesses already bracing for the strike. The town of Telluride is heavily reliant on tourism, and the closure of the ski area will likely result in a decline in destination tourists. Local businesses have been working on messaging around activities beyond riding lifts, and are discussing special events to help visitors who are already in town. The Telluride Tourism Board has released a statement saying that the destination is mobilizing to provide alternate activities for guests currently in town and those arriving, in addition to the many experiences Telluride & Mountain Village regularly offer.
Previous Strikes and Their Consequences
The strike at Park City Mountain Resort last year had significant consequences for the resort’s owner, Vail Resorts. The resort struggled to open new terrain without its patrollers, and skiers filed lawsuits against Vail Resorts. The company’s stock price fell $10 a share during the work stoppage, resulting in a loss of around $375 million in value. The company’s CEO, Kirsten Lynch, also lost her job in the wake of the strike. It remains to be seen what the consequences of the strike at Telluride will be, but it is likely to have a significant impact on the local community and the ski area’s owner.
The Future of the Ski Area
The future of the ski area is uncertain, with the resort’s owner saying that it will be working on a plan to reopen "as soon as possible." The strike is a result of failed negotiations between the Telluride Ski and Golf Co. and the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association, and it is unclear what the outcome of the strike will be. The local community is hopeful that the parties will continue to work towards a resolution, and that normal operations will resume as soon as possible. However, the strike is a significant blow to the local economy, and it remains to be seen what the long-term consequences will be.