In a growing sign of the labor movement’s rise in the outdoor industry, a strike of the Telluride Ski Patrol has shut down Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado.
The union’s workers voted to reject the resort owners’ most recent contract offer on Dec. 8. On Dec. 23, the union announced that with 99% of its members voting yes, it would begin a strike on Dec. 27. A day later, the resort announced that, due to the strike, it will close indefinitely beginning on Dec. 27.
The Dispute
Ski patrol employees perform essential safety functions at resorts, including responding to emergencies, monitoring avalanche risks, and trail maintenance. The Telluride Ski Patrol joined the Communication Workers of America Union in 2015. Its most recent contract with the resort expired on Aug. 31.
Since then, workers and the resort have gone back and forth over the new contract, particularly surrounding pay. The union says it is asking for $47.44 for the average hourly pay for supervisors, and the resort says it is willing to pay $39.84 per hour. This difference narrows when it comes to less experienced employees, with the union asking for $25.06 for trainees and the resort asking $24.06.
Both parties have objected to the other’s demands. On its website, the resort stated, “Despite Telski’s attempts to negotiate an industry leading, living, and sustainable wage increase, the Ski Patrol demanded an increase of 27.7% or $8.04 per hour just for the 2025/26 season. This was not a reasonable nor competitive demand.”
The union, meanwhile, claims, “The company continues to ignore our proposals for increased base wages and special teams premiums that encourage growth and retention within this group.
“In an unfair labor practice, the company continues to claim they cannot afford to increase our pay without increasing ticket and pass prices, but refuses to open the books and share costs and revenue.”
The Strike
On Dec. 8, the union’s workers voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer. On Dec. 23, the union announced that it would begin a strike on Dec. 27 — 99% of its members voted yes. It is not clear how long the strike will last.
Then, on Dec. 24, the resort announced it would close on Dec. 27, stating on Instagram, “We will continue working on a plan that allows us to reopen safely as soon as possible.” It also announced it would refund all advance-purchase lift tickets and other purchases like ski lessons.
Telluride Ski Resort has a page on its website dedicated to the ski patrol issue. It claims, “There has been a lot of inaccurate information circulating in our community about our offer to the Ski Patrol … Telluride recognizes far more specialized skills [than] the other resorts.”
The union said that it “has done everything within our power, short of accepting another subpar contract, to avoid this outcome.”
Resort Encounters Challenges
The strike is not the only difficulty that Telluride Ski Resort has encountered this year. This winter has been a warm one, with only 20 of 149 runs open as of Dec. 24.
The owner, Chuck Horning, has also attracted serious controversy. Local government officials criticized him for failing to improve aging infrastructure. The Denver Post also reported that four women alleged that Horning sexually assaulted or harassed them.
The Labor Movement in the Outdoors
Telluride’s ski patrol is one of several active labor unions of ski employees. Last December, Utah’s Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association started a labor strike at the Vail Resort–owned Park City Mountain, but the resort did not close. Shortly afterward, they reached a deal lasting through April 2027, ending the strike.
In November, the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol announced that it would hold a vote to unionize. Over 14 patrol units across the country have unionized. Many of the mountain towns where these people work have an extremely high cost of living. They also perform extremely dangerous tasks, particularly regarding avalanches and explosives.
The Telluride union explained its rationale for striking: “This is about fixing a broken wage structure and creating a pathway forward for years to come for those who strive to make this job a career.”
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