admin
In a groundbreaking effort for Eastern ski patrollers, the paid team at Sunday River Ski Patrol has officially taken steps to unionize by filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a union election. If approved, this move would make them the first unionized ski patrol in the East.
Over 70 percent of eligible patrollers have signed on to the petition. They are seeking affiliation with the Communications Workers of America Local 7781 – United Mountain Workers, a union currently representing approximately 1,100 ski patrollers and lift maintenance staff across the western United States.
According to a statement from the newly formed Sunday River Patrol Union, their aim is to establish “a sustainable workplace that guarantees fair compensation, safe working conditions, and professional development.” The union emphasized their deep connection to the mountains of western Maine, adding, “We love our work in the mountains of western Maine. With our union effort, we are asking Sunday River and Boyne Resorts to invest in us so that we can continue to perform our jobs at the highest level.”
Sunday River’s general manager, Brian Heon, expressed respect for the organizing process, stating, “We respect our team members’ right to participate in the union organization process. Our commitment to an open dialogue and fostering a workplace built on kindness, respect, and professionalism remains unchanged during this process. We are confident our team will continue to support one another because we all share the common goal of caring for our team, our guests, and our resort.”
A union vote, overseen by the NLRB, is expected to take place later this winter. Meanwhile, the Sunday River ski patrollers—tasked with providing medical care, hazard mitigation, terrain management, and guest services across eight peaks and more than 800 acres—remain dedicated to delivering top-notch service on the slopes.
