CWA-Represented Lift Maintenance Workers Threaten To Strike

Last week, Crested Butte Lift Maintenance workers (CBLM-CWA Local 7781) voted to authorize a strike against Vail Resorts. The strike authorization came on the heels of Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association’s (PCPSPA-CWA Local 7781) successful strike against the company. CBLM-CWA workers voted to form a union in June 2023, and contract negotiations with Vail Resorts, which owns Crested Butte Mountain Resort, have been ongoing since January 2024.

Members of CBLM-CWA cite low wages and a rising cost of living as their main issues. The company took nine months to respond to wage demands. Their counterproposal included no wage increases, prompting the escalation from workers. In a press release, workers stated, “Given the increasing cost of living in the Gunnison Valley, this response is unacceptable. It has become increasingly difficult to retain employees under these conditions. We respectfully urge decision-makers at Vail Resorts and Crested Butte Mountain Resort to reconsider our wage proposal to ensure fair compensation that reflects our current economic realities.”

Members got a bit of good news at the bargaining table earlier this week, however, with Vail representatives taking a more proactive approach to negotiations as a response to the strike threat.

Workers with the Keystone Ski Patrol Union (KSPU-CWA Local 7781) are also at the bargaining table with Vail Resorts. The company signaled that they do not want their patrollers to prioritize medical care for injured guests and questioned the importance of patrollers with higher medical certifications, such as nurses and paramedics who can perform advanced lifesaving procedures in the field. The KSPU-CWA bargaining team finds the company’s stance to be deeply problematic for both ski patrollers and public safety. Common injuries include anaphylaxis, femur fractures, and spinal injuries, which may require immediate stabilization before transportation off the mountain.

Click here to help CBLM-CWA workers reach their strike fund goal.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.