The Next Generation of Pioneers:

Why the Park City Strike Matters

$2? Who Do These Ski Patrollers Think They Are, Shareholders?

Park City’s “greatest snow on earth” vibe took a hard tumble after Christmas—not because of bad powder but because the real heroes of the slopes, the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA), went on strike. And honestly, who can blame them? Ski patrollers are the unsung avalanche-preventing, bone-setting, life-saving badasses of the mountain, and they’ve had enough.

The union isn’t asking for gold-plated skis—they’re calling for entry-level pay to rise from $21 an hour to $23. Yes, a whole two dollars. That’s less than the cost of a Vail-resort hot chocolate. They’re also demanding better overall pay packages, year-round healthcare, transparent communication, and basic respect from Vail Resorts. Not to mention the cost of living in a resort town is as high as the mountains they patrol.

Scabs, Safety, and the Art of Corporate Recklessness

Meanwhile, Vail has been busy making it rain—for shareholders, that is. Over the last three years, they’ve funneled $725 million into stock buybacks and $863 million into dividends. But apparently, paying their ski patrollers a living wage or treating them with dignity is a bridge too far.

To add insult to injury, Vail has brought in scabs—strikebreaking patrollers from other Vail-owned mountains. These replacements lack the medical training and terrain knowledge of local patrollers, raising serious safety concerns. In a sport where seconds can mean the difference between life and death, Vail’s decision to rely on undertrained patrollers isn’t just reckless—it’s a stark example of corporate greed outweighing community safety.

From Pioneer Spirit to Profit Hoarding

Let’s rewind for a moment. Utah’s pioneer ancestors didn’t survive by hoarding resources—they built co-ops, pooled efforts, and shared rewards. They understood that thriving as a community meant working together, and not leaving anyone out in the cold. Fast forward to today, and Vail’s business model—funneling profits to shareholders while squeezing workers—is a far cry from that spirit of cooperation.

Low-Paid Workers, High-Rent Town

Park City is a postcard-perfect playground for the affluent, but for those who work here—especially ski patrollers—sky-high housing costs create an unlivable scenario. A studio apartment (though good luck finding one) can easily run over $2,000 a month, and that’s before you factor in utilities or the price of groceries. When your starting wage is $21 an hour, you’re effectively priced out of the very community you serve. Forty hours a week at $21/hour comes out to a whopping $3,360 before taxes. Even a small increase to $23/hour is not nearly enough but we digress. Meanwhile, the average monthly rent price in Park City is $3,500—more than the full-time monthly salary of an entry ski patroller. Meanwhile, the founder of Rockstar Energy is currently selling a $47 million, 17,000-square-foot estate just up the road in Park City—complete with a bowling alley, golf simulator, a fire tower, salt room, and a whole extra suite for the caretakers—but yeah corporate billionaires can live like Rockstars while frontline workers struggle to cover rent. Cool.

It’s a powder keg of frustration: the resort rakes in premium tourist dollars while the workers who keep visitors safe can barely afford to live nearby. And this isn’t just about Park City. It’s about a system rigged to benefit billionaires at the expense of everyday workers. Anti-union policies, corporate lobbying, and wealth inequality have eroded the power of labor unions—one of the last lines of defense against unchecked corporate greed. Striking isn’t just standing up to an employer—it’s standing up to a system that has spent decades trying to crush workers’ rights.

The good news? Workers aren’t backing down.

Gen Z and Millennials: Making Labor Cool Again

Cue the next generation: Gen Z and Millennials. We’ve grown up juggling student debt, navigating the gig economy, and watching corporations rake in profits while freezing wages. And now, from Starbucks baristas to Amazon warehouse workers to ski patrollers, they’re leading a resurgence in labor activism. This is a generation that won’t settle for “that’s just how it is.” They’re demanding dignity, fair pay, and transparency—and they’re proving that a renewed labor movement can spring up anywhere, even in a famously “right-to-work” state like Utah.

The ski patrollers of Park City aren’t just striking for better wages—they’re modern pioneers, carving out new frontiers in labor rights and reminding us that collective action still works. Their strike has already raised over $170,000 from more than 2,000 donors, helping over 200 patrollers cover essentials like groceries, childcare, and rent while they hold the line.

So, Where Else Are Ski Patrollers Unionizing?

If you think this labor fight is strictly a “Utah thing,” think again. Ski patrols around the country have organized for similar reasons—low pay, dangerous working conditions, and a desire for collective bargaining power.

• Colorado has multiple unionized patrols, like Crested Butte and Telluride, both affiliated with the Communications Workers of America

• Washington has unionized patrollers at Stevens Pass and Alpental

• Oregon saw Mt. Bachelor patrollers vote to unionize a few years back.

If you’re a regular Elevate PAC reader, you know it wouldn’t be one of our Substacks without highlighting how Utah—famously red—keeps cozying up to its blue-state pals on list after list. Hmm… another moment where the Beehive State shrugs off any tidy political label and proves it’s full of surprises.

A Seat at the Table: A New Vision for Worker Power

But let’s think even bigger. What if we embraced some of that old-school co-op spirit and brought it into 2024? Imagine a scenario where the workers who risk life and limb on the mountain had more than a token seat at the table. Imagine a system where profits were reinvested into safety measures, fair pay, and affordable housing—where workers, communities, and even local governments shared in decision-making.

Utah’s history is full of surprising political pivots. From its pioneer roots to its rise as a hub for tech and tourism, the state has constantly evolved. The Park City strike has put a spotlight on how national anti-union laws, corporate lobbying, and out-of-touch executives intersect with the realities of working people. It’s a local story with national implications: if a labor movement can thrive in Utah, it can thrive anywhere.

This Is Where You Come In

We’re asking you to channel your righteous indignation away from us this week. Instead of donating to Elevate PAC, send your support straight to the PCPSPA strike fund. Help these ski patrollers show Vail that you can’t build an empire on the backs of underpaid workers and expect people to just…snowplow along with it.

Support the Strike Fund Here

This isn’t just a fight for fair pay—it’s a stand against billion-dollar greed and a demand for a future where workers have power, corporations are held accountable, and billionaires don’t write all the rules.

Whether you’re scrolling from your couch or considering a trip to Park City, remember this: Strikes work. Scabs don’t. And the future belongs to those who fight for it. If you’re thinking about crossing the picket line (seriously, don’t do it) and end up stuck in a never-ending lift line at Park City, ask yourself: Why are you siding with corporate profits over the workers who keep the mountain running?

---

Elevate PAC is working to eliminate single-party control at all levels of our state’s government by elevating inspirational leaders, activating the new Utah majority, and centering our shared values and common purpose.

Our blueprint is to recruit and train candidates, invest early, support strategically, and build relationships.

Paid for by Elevate PAC