After months of back and forth negotiations, The Keystone Ski Patrol Union (formed in 2024) has reached a tentative agreement with Keystone Resort in a battle for higher wages.
In late December 2024 Keystone Ski Patrol Union issued a statement through their Instagram account saying their current wage of $21.50 per hour was insufficient compensation for their cost of living or the work they do:
“At Keystone, we’re not just first responders; we’re a full-fledged EMS service responsible for medical calls, avalanche mitigation, technical rescues, and outdoor emergency care. Despite our critical skills and responsibilities, most of us earn below a living wage in Summit County. Now, with the ability to bargain collectively, we’re fighting for what we deserve.”
The Keystone Ski Patrol Union is seeking a starting wage of $23 per hour which is in line with what Park City Ski Patrol got from Vail Resorts after their recent strike that made national headlines.
Yesterday Keystone Ski Patrol Union announced their bargaining committee unanimously endorsed a tentative agreement on the contract with a vote ratify it scheduled for Saturday. United Mountain Workers, which represents ski industry professionals from across the West, issued the following statement about the deal:
“We have won contracts that have directly resulted in wages being increased across the industry in union and non union shops alike. We also recognize that we have much work left to do. Over the last decade, the ski industry has grown significantly, and the focus of the bosses has shifted to capturing as much wealth as possible for corporate executives and shareholders. The need for worker representation in our sector has never been higher.” -United Mountain Workers
Until the deal is ratified neither party is accepting media requests.
About United Mountain Workers (UMW):
United Mountain Workers (UMW) represents ski industry professionals from across the West under Communication Workers of America (CWA) AFL-CIO Local 7781.
UMW is a union of over 1,100 essential workers from 16 distinct units at 13 ski resorts. Our membership includes ski patrollers, bike patrollers, and ski lift mechanics and electricians working in technical, hazardous, and under-compensated roles. Working these positions in a mountain setting requires unique grit and tenacity: UMW is enormously proud to represent this group in a unified pursuit of sustainable, respectful wages and benefits, improved workplace safety, and just employment standards reflective of their competence and skills.
By securing beyond-basic items for our membership, we hope to uplift the quality of life for working-class individuals and their families in ski industry towns. Ensuring sustainable livelihoods for industry employees is indisputably necessary for providing high-quality skiing experiences to the public, and for enabling the equitable long-term success of the industry. Through our dedication to these common-sense ideas, UMW is helping strengthen the fabric of mountain communities across the west.
