NEDERLAND, Colorado – In a landslide 29-to-3 vote held over the weekend, patrollers at the Eldora Mountain Ski Resort have elected to form a union, joining seven other ski areas throughout Colorado that have already done so.
According to Rocky Mountain PBS, the union will be through the United Professional Ski Patrols of America of Communications Workers of America district 7. Both the resort and the union have a week to challenge the outcome and legitimacy of the election. If neither party challenges, a bargaining process will begin between patrollers and their bosses.
“We have an incredibly strong team and just like when we’re dealing with medical emergencies on the mountain, we have each other’s backs and we’re ready to do what it takes to help each other out and to serve the greater good. This is really incredible.” – Fourth-year ski patroller and union organizing committee member Nick Lansing
The Eldora patrollers’ stated goals for a new contract include overtime pay after 40 hours (rather than the current 56), health insurance for all patrollers (health insurance benefits only apply to patrollers on their third-year or more), higher pay based on experience, and restrooms on the mountain for indoor bathroom use while working.
Related: The Reasons Why Ski Patrollers Are Unionizing
Image Credit: Eldora Ski Patrol Union via Instagram
