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In a milestone moment for the ski industry, Solitude Ski Patrol have ratified their first-ever union contract, becoming the first patrol unit under Alterra Mountain Company to successfully unionize and negotiate a collective agreement. The Solitude Ski Patrol Union (SSPU) finalized the contract on July 17, 2025, with a unanimous “yes” vote—capping a 17-month journey toward improved wages, training, and working conditions.
Wages, Benefits, and Support for the Front Lines
The contract includes a 10% base wage increase, raising starting pay to $24/hour and top-level wages to $31/hour. A new specialist program introduces skill-based pay increases of up to $2.50/hour per role, with eligibility for up to four roles. Full-time patrollers will now receive a $1,300 seasonal equipment stipend—a 46% jump from previous levels—and a $100 monthly healthcare stipend, plus another $100 dedicated to general wellness. A $45,000 annual training budget was also secured to boost professional development and enhance on-mountain safety and expertise.
These gains follow an 8.25% wage increase secured for the 2024–25 season, which patrollers say was an early indicator of management’s willingness to engage. But the SSPU notes that the full collective bargaining agreement reflects more than just economics—it reflects a formal recognition of the vital work ski patrollers perform in one of the most physically demanding and hazardous jobs in the industry.
A National Movement for Better Standards
The SSPU’s successful ratification represents more than just a win for Solitude. It signals a broader shift in the North American ski industry, where a growing number of ski patrollers are turning to unionization as a means to improve conditions traditionally glossed over by the culture of “being paid in powder.” As the cost of living in resort towns continues to soar and seasonal housing remains limited, many workers are finding that passion alone isn’t enough to justify poor compensation or job insecurity.
Solitude’s union drive began on February 14, 2024, and faced early resistance, with resort management initially challenging the election results. The National Labor Relations Board overruled those objections in July 2024, clearing the way for negotiations to begin in November. Less than a year later, the union and resort reached a deal backed by all 35 patrollers.
The SSPU is now formally part of United Mountain Workers Local 7781, which represents over 1,100 ski area employees—including patrollers, lift mechanics, and bike patrol—at 14 resorts across the U.S., including Arapahoe Basin, Big Sky, Park City, and Whitefish. These groups are driving a new era of labor activism in the outdoor recreation industry, uniting over shared goals of safety, fair compensation, and long-term sustainability for frontline workers.
Why This Matters for the Industry
The Solitude contract sets a precedent for other Alterra-owned resorts, and indeed the entire ski industry, which continues to wrestle with how to retain skilled seasonal workers in an increasingly competitive labor market. Ski patrollers, often trained in avalanche mitigation, first response, and mountain rescue, are now demanding recognition as essential, technical workers whose value goes beyond the nostalgic image of the mountain lifestyle.
With ski areas becoming multi-billion-dollar properties, driven by corporate ownership and consolidation, the industry must balance shareholder returns with the well-being of those who keep the lifts spinning and the slopes safe.
Solitude’s agreement proves that mutual respect and constructive bargaining can lead to progress. The SSPU’s unanimous vote is a powerful reminder: the mountain runs on people, and it’s time those people are heard.
Ski The World!
Photo: Solitude Mountain Resort
