SAM Magazine—Jackson, Wyo., Nov. 21, 2025—Ninety-three percent of eligible Jackson Hole Ski Patrol employees backed a petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board for a union representation election, according to a release from the patrol. If certified, the group would form the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol Union under Communications Workers of America Local 7781, United Mountain Workers.

“We are career first-responders doing one of the most dangerous jobs in North America, yet many of us struggle to afford to live in the community we serve,” said nine-year Jackson Hole Mountain Resort patroller Tyler Babcock in the release. “This is about professionalism and sustainability. … A union gives us a seat at the table to build a better future for the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol.”

Patrollers noted the technical demands and inherent risk of the job, pointing to years of accumulated skills and institutional knowledge as essential to maintaining mountain safety and operations. 

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort earned the National Ski Areas Association’s Best Overall Safety Program award at the end of the 2024-25 season, and the patrol said its members were integral to that work, adding that “Unionizing will help patrollers secure the stability, representation, and long-term foundation necessary to provide the world-class experience Jackson Hole is known for.”

The petition begins a formal process that could lead to collective bargaining on pay, benefits, career incentives, and involvement in operational decisions. The effort aligns with a broader organizing trend among ski patrol teams seeking to address economic pressures and support long-term career viability.

“We care deeply about every member of our team, and we value the important role ski patrol plays at our resort,” JHMR vice president of marketing Ned Wonson told Jackson Hole News & Guide. “We are committed to listening, engaging respectfully and continuing open dialogue.”

In the release, patrollers also pointed to Teton County’s significant income-inequality gap as a threat to their long-term career viability. Teton County is the wealthiest in the nation, and the Town of Jackson continues to grapple with an affordability crisis, exemplified by its acute lack of affordable housing.