The Park City Lift Maintenance Professional Union and Vail Resorts signed a two-year contract on Monday that a representative for the workers said is beneficial to both sides.
The deal bumps up pay and increases safety training, according to Cody Madden, lead lift mechanic for Vail and a member of the union’s bargaining committee.
The contract covers 45 lift mechanics and electricians on the Park City and Canyons sides of Park City Mountain. The pay increase will vary depending on the employee, and the union has the option to renegotiate wages.
Madden noted the resort has experienced high turnover with workers leaving for higher-paying employment and said the overall goal in the contract talks was to increase safety and make life maintenance a viable career.
“We’re one of the few departments on the mountain that are here full time year round,” he said. “We feel with this contract we’re going to be able to retain a lot more employees, keep a lot of experience, overall, making it a better guest experience and safer for everybody, as well,” he said.
Deirdra Walsh, Park City Mountain vice president and chief operating officer, also is pleased with the agreement.
“Through a positive and respectful process, both sides worked to reach an agreement that that will govern our working relationship, and one that is consistent with our company’s approach for lift maintenance across all of our resorts,” Walsh said in a written statement. “We respect and care deeply about all of our employees, including our lift maintenance teams, and we will continue to do the right thing for team members across the company. With our 2023-24 season now underway, we look forward to celebrating our 60th year and continuing to work together to provide a great experience for our guests and employees.”
Madden said he hopes the agreement lays the groundwork for lift maintenance at other resorts to get the respect it deserves. The Park City Mountain workers in November 2022 became what are believed to be the first unionized ski resort mechanics in the country.
“It is a career that does demand a high level of skill and it should be compensated for that,” he said.
In March 2022, Vail Resorts raised the minimum wage to $20 an hour for all employees at its North American mountain resorts and its corporate office for the 2022-23 winter season and implemented increases for hourly employees with adjustments based on career stage and leadership differentials. A $21 per hour minimum was implemented for maintenance technicians, patrol employees and certified vehicle drivers.