If you’re not up to speed on the matter, check out our most recent blog on the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association’s (PCPSPA) ongoing battle with Vail Resorts here.
The Park City Ski Patrollers have still not come to a contract agreement with employer Vail Resorts, and it appears that they’re gearing up for a potential strike. The Union recently created a GoFundMe page to raise money for patrollers daily needs (rent, food, necessities, etc.) if they decide to go on strike.
It’s unclear how close the patrollers are to actually walking out on Vail Resorts, but they’ve already raised $14k of their $100k at the writing of this blog. A full strike by Park City’s ski patrollers would inevitably result in a temporary closure of the resort. It seems that the PCPSPA is preparing for a worst-case scenario by raising the funds, and is putting the ball in Vail Resorts’ court.
The PCPSA is fighting for higher starting wages, and is part of a larger movement amongst ski patrollers across the nation for better pay.
It makes sense when you think about it.
Ski resorts, especially those owned by mega-corporation Vail Resorts (that casually has over $1 billion in cash on hand), should pay their valuable ski patrollers more. It’s that simple. It’s nearly impossible to afford to live in a hyper-inflated ski town like Park City these days, and ski patrollers deserve to be paid fairly. It’s not like they’re asking to be millionaires. Vail Resorts should meet their demands and end this madness.
You can donate to the PCPSA Solidarity Fund by click here, or clicking the embedded button below.
Here’s the full GoFundMe description:
“The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association is asking for your support! We remain in contract negotiations with Vail Resorts and we are committed to fighting until we secure fair and livable wages for our patrollers. The bargaining process has been ongoing for 16 months and we have seen our ski community show up again and again for us throughout this long process. Now, we are asking you to help us level the field and show the ski industry you continue to stand in solidarity by donating to our union action fund. Many of you have asked how you can contribute more; this fund is a direct way to assist the PCPSPA with more significant union action as we continue our push for a fair agreement.
So what is an action fund? An action fund is a safety net in the event we are forced into more significant action and we are not receiving paychecks. This fund differs from conventional fundraising that goes towards t-shirts, swag, etc. It is only utilized to help patrollers pay for basic needs such as rent and food in our last/worst case scenario.
