Vail Resorts has faced a significant decline in shares due to a labor dispute at Park City Mountain Resort in Utah, where the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association initiated a strike late last month. This work stoppage has resulted in complaints from ski patrons regarding lengthy lines and delays during their costly trips. The union is primarily seeking an increase in base wages from $21 to $23 per hour, claiming previous offers from Vail did not address their demands for fair wages and benefits. The strike has drawn attention to the consolidation of ski resorts under Vail and other companies, as well as criticism toward Vail’s historical ties with private equity firms. As of December 27, the strike began without Vail providing a counterproposal, prompting the patrollers to urge the public not to purchase lift tickets. Customer dissatisfaction has surged, marked by social media posts about unusually long wait times and operating reductions, with only 25 of 41 lifts functional. Vail’s stock has declined over 5% recently and around 6% in the past month, further aggravating the situation. The ongoing labor dispute continues to highlight the challenges faced by both workers and consumers in the ski industry.
