Vail Resorts Strikes Again
The struggles with Vail and its employees aren't over yet! Although the Park City strike ended and the PCPSPA reached an agreement with Vail Resorts, the challenges with Vail are seemingly neverending. Trouble is brewing at Colorado resorts this time around. Maybe it was too optimistic to believe Vail would change their ways so soon!
The Breckenridge "Sickout"
Employees of Breckenridge Ski Resort recently staged a "sickout" in protest of their housing conditions. These employees noted the freezing temps, absence of hot water, and even no heat in some apartments. If you've stepped outside in the past week or so, you know how cold it's been lately just here in Denver. Now, imagine living up in the mountains without the proper amenities at home. The employees spoke to CBS Colorado, stating that they have been submitting maintenance requests for months. They also noted their requests for Vail to step in have been ignored.
On January 22, 2025, Vail Resorts backfilled the "sick" employees with other local workers from different resorts. This once again highlights the intriguing and controversial topic of scab workers. Scab workers are individuals who continue to work while others are on strike. They essentially cross the picket line and take the jobs of those who are protesting for better conditions or wages.
Rumors were floating around that only one lift was running due to the "sickout", but that has been disputed. According to the Breckenridge Resort app, 25 of 35 lifts were operational. The closures that did occur were said to be due to weather conditions, not staffing shortages.
Vail Resorts' Response
Jon Copeland, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Breckenridge Ski Resort, put out the following statement:
"Summit County, Colorado has had extreme cold temperatures. As a result, some of our team members in employee housing have experienced heat and hot water issues. This is completely unacceptable, and mechanical work is in progress to address that. We have offered alternate lodging to every person on our team who is impacted, and we are waiving their housing fees for this time. We have had some Breckenridge team members call in sick today, and we support anyone on our team who needs to take the day off to care for their health or who needs to relocate to the alternate lodging that we are providing. Breckenridge Ski Resort is open and operating today. As always, current lift and terrain status is available on the website, including the current weather hold on our Imperial lift."
Talk about damage control! Naturally, these employees still don't feel too warm and fuzzy about their parent company. Some even said they were still experiencing issues with heat and hot water the following day.
Voices from the Ground
The housing concerns go beyond what we've already covered. One of the employees highlighted a significant backlog of maintenance issues, ranging from holes in the walls to black mold. He voiced frustration with the company's initial response, stating, “The least they could do is act like they cared, but they didn't even do that.” He also recounted an instance where a resident requested a space heater from the housing office and was provided with a small, desk-sized heater to heat an entire apartment.
Krystal 93 also spoke with Breckenridge employees. One liftie told Phil Lindeman, Krystal 93's news director, that his ground-floor unit was flooded after temps dropped to negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, multiple ground-level floors experienced flooding. The damage has been addressed, but this employee's bathroom ceiling has also been leaking sewage for weeks. Yuck! The resort's solution was to provide him with housing at Keystone and compensate him with a single day’s rent, valued at $17. Unsurprisingly, the liftie called this "a slap in the face." You'd think Vail would have the means to offer more than this, but then again, their stocks have been tanking. I wonder why!
Krystal 93 talked to another resident, who has been staying at employee housing for three years. Previously, she lived at the Sagebrush housing in Keystone, where Breck is now providing alternative accommodations. She noted it's 10 times worse than the Breckenridge Terrace Apartments, where these issues have been occurring.
A third resident shared that he and his three roommates feel “underappreciated, undervalued and unwanted.” Despite voicing their concerns to management, these problems have continued. He noted he has been sleeping in his uniform when the heat goes out in order to stay warm.
Both CBS and Krystal 93 are respecting the privacy of the employees, who had requested their identities be kept anonymous. It's also important to note that these employees, who are not ski instructors, are not unionized. This makes it more difficult for them to make their voices heard and enact real change.
Community and Skier Reactions
It's not just the employees who are displeased. Local skiers also are unhappy about the treatment of the employees. Some advised people to avoid skiing at Breck on the day of the "sickout" in support of the workers. It's encouraging to see how much those who enjoy the mountain are standing in solidarity with these employees. These issues are a great reminder that when we're enjoying our time on the mountain, there are people behind the scenes making it all happen.
Media Influence and Future Outlook
Change appears to be underway, with maintenance crews beginning to address the problems at the Breckenridge Terrace Apartments. The employee who spoke with CBS did say he felt like things were starting to improve. Breck's Employees attribute media coverage as a key factor prompting Vail Resorts to address the issues.
I guess we will just have to wait and see how things progress. Will Vail get it together, or will the wave of protests only continue to grow? It's a shame to see what these employees are dealing with, but it's not really a surprise. I'm rooting for them to see some positive changes soon. Let's hope Alterra isn't next!
