Inside Voices: How a strike in Park City is impacting workers, locals and tourists
Plus: A call for greater transparency from data centers.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Park City ski patroller Mike Reilly, alongside a sabo cat flag, a symbol of labor organizing, joins other patrollers as they officially go on strike early Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Citing unfair labor practices and marking the latest chapter in the union’s negotiations with Park City Mountain and its owner, Vail Resorts the patrollers took up the fight at several locations in Park City.
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This past week, members of Park City Mountain’s ski patrol union continued their unfair labor practice strike against Vail Resorts.
Sarah Atwill Petelinsek, a medical student, researcher and former ski patroller wrote in an op-ed published this week that ski patrollers are often typecast as “adventurous dirtbags skiing powder and triggering avalanches with dynamite.”
That vision is oversimplified, she says.
“In my three years as a ski patroller at Park City Mountain Resort, I was injured twice,” she wrote. “I witnessed lives lost to the mountain, including those of friends and colleagues. I developed PTSD and ultimately fell out of love with the sport that drew me to the job in the first place.”
In another op-ed published this week, Salt Lake City comedian and writer Brian Higgins recalled the time he suffered a ski injury and required ski patroller help.
“Imagine stupidly snapping two of your bones and costing your favorite resort 1/13th the cost of a lift ticket. Would they even be able to open the next day? I was distraught.”
Here’s a look at what other Utahns had to say about the strike and its impacts:
“I’m not sure $23 is even close to a living wage in the Salt Lake Valley,” one Instagram follower commented. “Shame on Park City Mountain Resort.”“Does a company really want their safety people to be that low paid?” another Instagram follower asked. “Can they not see the danger it represents in higher turnover and not drawing the best? My guess is the customers that pay a lot to recreate would want well paid people looking after their safety.”“Worst day ‘trying’ to ski on the PC & CANYONS mountain,” someone commented on The Tribune’s Facebook page. “Paid customers being punished for company and worker disagreements. Seems patrol and all the workers at PC should get paid more.”“Hire new people that are grateful for their jobs and don’t exploit businesses!” another person commented on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to join the conversation.
Utah Voices
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dibora Sahile wades in the Great Salt Lake, on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.
The following excerpts come from op-eds recently published in The Tribune.
Great Salt Lake
“To help preserve the Great Salt Lake, Utah needs to require that data centers publish water usage data,” writes Mary-Clare Bosco, Jonathan Gilmour and Rebecca Kilberg with the Aspen Policy Academy. “Regulators currently do not understand how much water is being used in this sector, making it almost impossible to set conservation targets and policies to encourage data centers run by private companies and government agencies to reduce water usage. Publicizing this information will hold parent tech companies and data center developers accountable to their sustainability goals and the broader community, while allowing greater oversight.” Read more. Housing
“The need for affordable housing is widely known, but the need for accessible housing is less discussed and just as pressing,” writes Kristy Chambers, the CEO of Columbus Community Center, and Andrew Riggle, the public policy advocate for the Disability Law Center. “For individuals with disabilities and those who are aging, finding a home that meets their needs can be even more challenging. It’s time we prioritize affordable, accessible housing so anyone, regardless of their physical ability or age, can live with dignity.” Read more. Health
“As we get closer to confirming candidates for the various government agencies under newly elected Donald Trump, there are many that cause concern, but the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is among my highest,” writes Maggie Laun in Millcreek. “While I appreciate his views on healthy food, I am especially frightened by his views on vaccines and those around him advocating for the elimination of the required polio vaccine.” Read more. Faith
“The rare sight of women in leadership on the stand reflects a wider issue of visibility and representation,” writes Amy Watkins Jensen. “When Hollywood steps in to fill this vacuum, it offers a narrative that the women of the church could instead be telling for themselves. Visibility matters not for worldly acclaim but because it reflects doctrinal truths and helps align our practices with them. To thrive as a church, we must ensure women are visibly valued and empowered as essential partners in building Zion.” Read more. Share Your Perspective
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers ride Deer Valley Resort's new Keetley Express during its maiden voyage Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. The high-speed, six-person bubble lift is the first to operate out of the resort's new East Village base and gives skiers access to some of the more than 3,000 acres of new terrain Deer Valley plans to open in the coming years.
I’m gathering predictions ahead of the new year. What do you see happening — or what would you like to see happen — in Utah in 2025?
From Bagley’s Desk
I’m always looking for unique perspectives, ideas and solutions that move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop me a note at voices@sltrib.com.