Ski Resort Labor Crisis: Patrollers Navigate Rising Costs and Wage Concerns
The recent resolution of a landmark labor strike in Park City highlights a growing challenge in America's ski industry: resort workers struggling to maintain their mountain lifestyle amid escalating living costs.
The situation is exemplified by Kali Flaherty, a 26-year-old full-time ski patroller at Colorado's Arapahoe Basin. Despite three years of experience managing trail safety, responding to injuries, and conducting avalanche prevention, her $23 hourly wage necessitates supplemental income from a healthcare clinic position. Like many of her colleagues, she shares an apartment with multiple roommates in Breckenridge, 20 miles from her workplace.
The financial strain on ski patrollers has reached a critical point. Resort communities such as Breckenridge, Vail, Aspen, and Park City have seen dramatic cost-of-living increases that threaten to displace essential personnel. Proximity to these locations remains crucial due to winter driving conditions and fuel expenses, yet many patrollers report difficulties covering basic necessities, let alone building savings.
This economic pressure has catalyzed labor activism across the industry. Following a prolonged holiday season strike, Vail Resorts recently conceded to the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association's demands, raising entry-level wages from $21 to $23 per hour and enhancing benefits. Simultaneously, Arapahoe Basin's patrol staff is pursuing unionization, following similar organizing efforts at various Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company properties.
The compensation structure for ski patrollers reveals significant disparities between required expertise and remuneration. The industry average of $21.56 per hour varies based on experience and certifications, with additional medical qualifications providing modest wage increases. While patrollers receive complimentary lift passes valued between $120-300 daily, housing costs in resort areas often exceed monthly earnings. In Breckenridge, where median rent approaches $5,000 monthly, essential goods carry premium prices, with basic items costing significantly more than in metropolitan areas.
To sustain their careers, many patrollers maintain multiple jobs. Kyle Eveland, a second-year patroller at Breckenridge Resort earning $23.28 hourly, supplements his income through snow removal, construction work, and concrete pumping. Despite his EMT certification, his transition to patrol yielded minimal financial benefit over his previous position as a lift operator.
The industry faces a potential expertise drain as experienced patrollers contemplate career changes. Mike Reilly, a six-year Park City veteran, recently completed nursing school as a contingency plan. Max Magill, a decade-long patroller and United Mountain Workers union president emphasizes that the current wage structure threatens the retention of skilled professionals crucial for resort operations and safety.
The recent Park City agreement may signal a shift toward more sustainable employment conditions in the ski industry. However, these challenges extend beyond patrol staff to various resort positions, including food service, lift operations, and maintenance personnel, who face similar financial constraints.
While passionate professionals like Flaherty remain committed to their roles, the industry's future depends on addressing the growing disparity between wages and living costs in resort communities. The increasing solidarity among patrol staff suggests a continuing push for improved working conditions across America's ski resorts.