FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) – Telluride, one of the most prominent ski resorts in the Western U.S., is scheduled to close soon due to a labor dispute between the resort's owner and the ski patrol union. The Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association announced its decision to strike, effective Saturday, following unsuccessful contract negotiations that have been ongoing since June over wage issues.
With no further talks planned before the weekend, Telluride Ski Resort officials have confirmed that they will not operate on the day of the strike. Owner Chuck Horning expressed concern about the potential impact of the strike, stating, “We are concerned that any organization, particularly one that exists to help people, would do something that will have such a devastating effect on our community.” The exact duration of the closure remains unknown, as resort officials are attempting to devise a plan to resume operations even if the strike continues.
The ski patrollers are advocating for higher wages to match those of their peers at other resorts in the region. Specifically, the union is requesting that starting pay increase from $21 to $28 per hour. Additionally, they seek to raise the pay for experienced patrollers, with over 30 years of service, from $30-$36 per hour to a range of $39-$48.60 per hour.
While resort officials have suggested that the impending closure is the responsibility of the union, Andy Dennis, the interim safety director and spokesperson for the patrollers' association, has countered that the blame rests with Horning. Dennis accused the owner of being a bully, stating, “He’s being a bully. This is what bullies do, take their toys and run. All he has to do is give us a fair contract, and this would all be over.”
Safety and financial factors are key arguments in favor of the patrollers’ push for increased compensation. They often point out that the cost of living is significantly high in ski towns, and their responsibilities include vital safety roles such as attending to injured skiers and managing avalanche control using explosives when deemed necessary.
This season has already seen a slow start for Telluride, as only 20 of the resort’s 149 trails are open due to unusually warm weather. Furthermore, discussions around unionization have gained traction among ski patrollers throughout the Rocky Mountain region.
This situation echoes recent events where a strike had a major impact on operations at Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort last year. That strike lasted nearly two weeks, leading to many runs being closed and extended lift lines due to the demands made by ski patrol workers. The conflict was resolved when Colorado-based Vail Resorts agreed to the union's requests, which included a $2-an-hour base pay increase and salary raises for senior patrollers.
