The popular Telluride ski resort in Mountain Village, Colorado, was closed Saturday with no reopening date due to labor dispute with ski patrol trade union over wages. Resort management announced the upcoming closure on Wednesday.
The Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association has voted to strike after months of negotiations, saying resort owners have ignored offers to raise wages because of the high cost of living in the popular Colorado ski town.
“We have exhausted all ideas to prevent this situation, and we have made compromises below our comfort and profit levels in order to move the conversation forward in good faith,” the ski patrol association said in a statement Friday. “Instead of negotiating, Telluride Ski and Golf Resort (TSG) brought us back to the negotiating table last week without any ideas, solutions or improvements to move toward the middle. TSG never tried to increase their offer and completely wasted our time leading up to the holiday season.”
Bailey Briefcase
Telluride owner Chuck Horning says the ski patrol union rejected the resort's “best and final offer.” In his statement, Horning said in part: “Telluride Ski Resort did not make this decision—neither the strike nor the timing of the strike.”
Bailey Mallett, who worked as a Telluride ski patroller for 15 years, says “it's not a lot of money we're asking for,” but they're pushing for changes to the pay structure so people can “make a real career out of it.”
Mallett says it's also about retaining talented people, especially given the time it takes to learn the job: “It takes so long to learn the terrain and learn the different aspects of the job that it takes about five years for someone to really understand what they're doing.”
Ski patrol consists of specially trained rescuers who hike, ski or snowmobile to injured skiers, treat their injuries and often take them off the mountain to a separate location for more advanced medical care or transport to a hospital. Many patrol members are EMT, Paramedic, or Special Extrication Techniques certified.
Some ski patrol members are even more specialized. deliberately causing avalanches using explosives before resort areas open to prevent avalanches in the presence of skiers.
Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images 
Horning said he was disappointed that patrol officers were off the job during one of the busiest times of the year.
The Ski Patrol Association said the resort's refusal to negotiate led to the closure, not the patrol members' decision to go on strike.
“The ski patrol did not make any decision to close this mountain. This is not our decision and never has been ours. Our union has given us a voice that we use to advocate for fair wages, our future and the sustainability of our program,” the statement said. “Make no mistake: Chuck Horning knew this was possible and did not prepare anything to continue operating safely. In response to the union, TSG has chosen to cause catastrophic harm to its employees, guests, local businesses and our community.”
The Ski Patrol Association, in a separate statement Thursday, said it had reduced its contract demands, including lowering salary expectations and no longer demanding health care or increased equipment stipends, which it said reduced its demands by about $220,000.
“The company moved $0,” the patrol association said. “We came to the negotiating table ready to make a deal, and we do not believe that a company that 'respectfully' offered a twice-rejected (last, best, and final offer) a third time was going to do the same.”
The stalled negotiations are caused by what the union calls a “broken wage structure.”
Nathan Bilow/AP 
Ski patrollers in Telluride earn a minimum of $21 an hour, while supervisors earn an average of about $38.17 an hour, or between $43,680 and $79,393 a year before taxes, according to the union. The average rent in Telluride is $8,342 per month, and for a one-bedroom apartment is $3,594, which is about 318% higher than the national average, according to Zillow.
Telluride Mayor Teddy Errico called the strike and closure “unprecedented.” He said he is in contact with both sides and hopes they can resolve the dispute quickly given the economic impact of the strike and the resort's closure during the resort's busiest time of year.
“In the winter, Telluride Ski Resort is our economic driver and we can't shy away from that,” he told CBS News Colorado. He says if the closure lasts more than a couple of days, it will be detrimental to the community.
“It’s just the reality that when you rely on one business, when that business hurts, it hurts everyone,” he said. “We are here to help if we can find some solution to help bridge the gap. It’s important that you know that each party knows that we care.”
Telluride is just the latest resort where the ski patrol union has become embroiled in labor disputes. In January Park City Mountain Resort patrolman goes on strike in Utah brought them higher wages and benefits. And in February, Keystone Resort reaches agreement with ski patrol union for a higher salary.
“The Patrol proposed this pay increase as an improved pay structure that supports specialty skill development, retention and contribution to this program,” the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association said. “The company continues to insist on one-time salary adjustments that do not promote attraction or retention on this team or create career paths for new members of this team. It’s just a Band-Aid when we need a tourniquet.”
