Today Telluride resort opened limited terrain amid a strike by the ski patrol union. As the strike hit day 10, Telluride reopened Lift 1, Meadows Carpet, and Vista Carpet - all beginner areas low on the mountain.
In renewed negotiations over the weekend, Telski made a new offer to workers which the patrol union dismissed as simply moving money around. Telski’s offer included bonus pay of $1.50 per hour for specialized duties, and cost-of-living pay increases for patrollers in the first three years that were reduced from the previous offer, according to the union. The union statement said the bonus pay could be revoked and does not amount to the stable pay scale increases they seek.
Patrol negotiators were also irked by a press release from Telski issued midway though the Saturday negotiations, calling it an intimidation tactic.
Leading up to the patrol strike, employment listings for temporary ski patrollers were posted to the resort’s job portal.
The listing required applicants to have a current Emergency certification and a minimum of one year of ski patrol experience. Experience in avalanche mitigation, beacon search and rescue, and high-angle rescue is listed as a “plus.”
The resort’s press release concludes with its intention to reopen the limited terrain today, promising more lifts and terrain “pending the resolution of the negotiations.”
The patrol has been on strike since December 27, one of the top weeks for business across Colorado ski areas. Telluride ski area closed the same day and has remained closed until now.
