By Friday morning, the ski patrol’s second day back on the job at Park City Mountain, 43% of the skiable terrain had opened — up from 30% Wednesday, the last day of the strike.Ten months of contract negotiations had culminated in the 12-day strike through the peak Christmas-New Year’s holiday, and 30-year-low snowfall as of Christmas Eve replaced with over 4 feet in storms that brought northern Utah’s snowpack up to nearly average for this time of year. The disruption of operations that had a low of 13% of the mountain open, huge crowds and a skeleton crew of non-union patrollers filled in with replacements from other Vail Resorts mountains left thousands of skiers frustrated and openly hostile toward the ski company.By the end of the strike, ratified Wednesday night, the ski patrol union appeared to win everything it had asked for from the company. The 200-strong ski patrol’s union ratified its new contract until April 2027 unanimously and returned to work on Thursday. The new contract also accounts for the time lapsed between the expiration of the previous agreement in April 2024. The prolonged contract negotiations wound up involving federal mediation in the end. The union filed six unfair labor practice charges against Vail Resorts in addition to striking. Negotiations became contentious after the union’s committee walked out of the session on Dec. 12 and authorized a 100% strike authorization vote on Dec. 13. By Dec. 17, Vail Resorts agreed to a federal mediator for the remaining four articles of a 27-article contract, including those on wages and benefits.Mediation was scheduled for Dec. 26 and 27, but the union began striking on the 27th and mediation began again Dec 30. Negotiators for the company and union met five more times before reaching an agreement on Tuesday evening.Here is part of the agreement:Pay According to Park City Mountain and Vail Resorts, the average base wage for returning patrollers increased by 3%, and the entry-level base wage remains at $21/hour. Additional wage increases resulting from the new contract are specific to Park City Mountain’s unique terrain and avalanche complexity, the company said. “Any increases, aside from the 3% merit increase for returning patrollers, is coming from skills-based pay, including mountain terrain complexity,” said Park City Mountain.Based on the Park City-specific elements, the contract secured a base pay increase of $2 for all new hires, increasing the former $21/hour starting wage to $23. More tenured patrollers will see an average increase of $4, with the most experienced professionals, including snow safety specialists, receiving an average increase of $7.75/hour. The contract also secured “wage parity” in which Park City Mountain ski patrol’s pay will rise along with any increases to other Vail Resorts patrol wages.These specific wage increases were a main priority for the union’s bargaining unit as they account for the experience and skills of patrollers and incentivize employee longevity, union leaders said.Another primary concern for the union was to keep wages in line with inflation and the local cost of living. The union announced in a statement on Wednesday that the new contract address these concerns and they feel the contract is fair. “This contract is more than just a win for our team. It’s a groundbreaking success in the ski and mountain worker industry. This effort demonstrates what can be achieved when workers stand together and fight for what they deserve,” said Seth Dromgoole, the lead negotiator and a 17-year patroller.Bill Rock, the president of Vail Resorts’ mountain division, said Wednesday, “Park City Mountain has reached an agreement with the Park City ski patrol union that is consistent with our company’s wage structure for all patrollers, non-unionized and unionized, while accounting for the unique terrain and avalanche complexity of Park City Mountain.” The Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association picketed at Canyons Village in early January. Credit: Park Record file photo by Clayton StewardBenefits The contract improved parental leave policies for the union and enhanced industry leading educational opportunities. The unit had sought to improve their seasonal benefits and training packages and considers this to be a win in the new contract, their leaders said. The union said Wednesday that these improved benefits, “reflect the value of work-life balance and professional development.”The previous proposal on wages from Vail Resorts included an average wage increase of 4% for returning patrollers with a $1,600 gear allowance. Given the previous average patrol wage of $25, with a newly secured $4 average increase, the average wage increase, including the unique factors of Park City Mountain, comes out to about 16% under the current contract. As the ski patrol returns to work, leaders of the union and Vail Resorts they were grateful and excited to move forward from the past 10 months of increasing tension. “This milestone contract marks the conclusion of an unprecedented strike at the largest ski resort in the United States. PCPSPA is eager to resume their essential roles and maintain the highest standard of safety and guest experience at Park City Mountain. The union looks forward to fostering a productive and collaborative relationship with Park City Mountain and Vail Resorts in the future,” union leaders said.  Given the compounding factors of limited terrain availability, 30-year record low snowfall followed by the storm dumps, the strike and influx of holiday visitors, Park City Mountain was able to open between 13% and 25% of terrain throughout the work stoppage. The impact was felt by guests and employees alike, and spread the news of the strike across many major news outlets, placing pressure on negotiators to conclude the agreement immediately.“While the Park City Mountain team — and patrollers from our other mountain resorts — worked hard to keep the mountain open, the strike did impact the guest experience over the holidays. We deeply regret any time we are not able to provide a great guest experience, and we are actively addressing the feedback we have received from guests directly,” said Rock.  Park City Mayor Nann Worel spoke out on Monday on behalf of the City Council, calling on Vail Resorts to resolve the labor dispute. Following the strike’s end and the ratification of the contract on Wednesday, she applauded negotiators for reaching a conclusion.“Today, we thank and applaud Vail Resorts and the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association for their mutual commitment to addressing workers’ concerns and finding a solution that supports our local economy and resort operations,” Worel said on Wednesday. “The council and I are relieved and grateful for the strike’s resolution. This challenging time has highlighted the power of civility and mutual respect in overcoming our issues. We recognize and appreciate the hard work of everyone involved, especially the local resort leadership team, in bringing this to a successful conclusion. As we move forward, it’s time to refocus on what makes Park City extraordinary.” “The ratification of this contract after 10 long months of negotiations is a step toward strengthening our patrol and mountain safety teams and fostering a safer, more financially sustainable workplace,” said Kate Lips, the Park City Professional Ski Patrol president and a seven-year patroller.The union set up a strike fund for the duration of the work stoppage that totaled $306,486 before being closed on Tuesday night with a tentative contract agreement. The fund provided aid to patrollers and mountain safety personnel from community donations to account for their lack of income. The money that is not used will be donated to local community efforts, used to sustain the union and support mountain worker solidarity, the union said. “The union is also thankful for the ongoing support from the community, both in Park City and nationwide, which has played an integral role in achieving this resolution and supporting our membership on the picket line over the past 13 days,” union leaders said Wednesday.As of Friday morning, 43% of available terrain at Park City Mountain was available with 150 of 350 trails and 28 lifts open. Since New Year’s Day, Park City Mountain has seen over 2 feet of new snowfall. “The team remains committed to providing exceptional service and upholding Park City’s reputation as a premier destination for winter recreation. The safety of guests and the well-being of team members remain the top priority for PCPSPA. Union members are excited to return to work and look forward to joining their community on the mountain,” said the union.The post Park City ski patrol gets back to work after winning most of what union sought in contract appeared first on Park Record.