Ski Patrollers Score Major Victory with New Park City Agreement

Park City ski patrollers are going back to work after a nearly two-week strike ended with an agreement that brings significant wage increases and new benefits. The union received 100% ratification for the new contract.

"A lot of this job is deemed to be fun, which is amazing, but that should not negate the fact that all of us should be making living wages," explained Quinn Graves, business manager with the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association.

According to Graves, the agreement felt like a huge relief and win that showed unions work. The union believes the biggest wins were a minimum two-dollar-an-hour increase for all members, with most patrollers now making $4 an hour more with the new contract, and a nearly $8 an hour increase for senior patrollers.

"Ski patrollers are the medical first responders on the mountain. We do a lot of the snow safety, which means avalanche mitigation work. We provide a lot of great guest experience," Graves said, "we think all mountain workers deserve a living wage."

Graves also praised the support from the Park City community, saying it was incredible.

"I was born and raised in this town of Park City, and Park City has always been a place where the community comes together and supports one another, and so it's not really a surprise to me that everyone really rallied behind us and supported us," she shared.