SAM Magazine—Crested Butte, Colo., Jan. 27, 2025—Lift maintenance workers at Vail Resorts-owned Crested Butte voted for a strike authorization following negotiations in which Vail Resorts has refused to increase their pay, according to the union. Negotiations have dragged on for more than a year.Photo credit: Crested Butte.

The 12 lift maintenance union members say that their pay has not kept up with inflation, let alone the cost of living in a resort community.

“We have the most beautiful office anyone could ask for,” said Thomas Pearman, a lift mechanic and president of the Crested Butte Lift Maintenance union. “But we can't pay our bills with sunsets.”

The situation in Crested Butte is similar to that of the Park City Mountain (Utah) patrollers, where a 12-day strike led to a settlement that included an average $4 an hour raise.

In a statement to Denver's 9News, Vail Resorts reported it has reached tentative agreement on roughly half of the contract issues cited by the union, and stated its intention to reach a settlement. 

“We continue to negotiate in good faith with the union that represents the lift maintenance team at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and are making steady progress,” said GM JD Crichton. “We have tremendous respect for our lift maintenance employees and all of our team members, who are the heartbeat of our resort.”

Vail Resorts said that the next bargaining session is scheduled for this week.