Ski patrollers at Park City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the U.S., are on strike after being denied higher wages earlier this year, creating long lines and frustration during the peak season.
The Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association represents 204 ski patrollers and mountain safety employees, reports the New York Times. It wants a $2 increase of its hourly wage from $21 to $23, which Park City Mountain owner Vail Resorts did not agree to back in September.
Vail Resorts told the New York Times that wages have increased by more than 50% over the past four ski seasons.
“We are proud of the significant investments we have made into all of our employees, including patrol, which have far outpaced inflation,” said Bill Rock, president of Vail Resorts Mountain Division.
With fewer patrollers working, just one-quarter of Park City’s trails are open.
“We deeply regret that this is having any level of impact on the guest experience and are grateful to our thousands of employees who are working hard every day to enable the experience at Park City Mountain and open the terrain that we can safely open.”
