In today’s News and Commentary, Starbucks workers’ negotiations with the company continue to flounder, Utah ski patrollers return to work after a nearly two-week strike, and a longtime UAW union officer announces his retirement.

Starbucks workers highlight their CEO’s large pay package amid tense contract negotiations. Starbucks’ CEO, Brian Niccol, joined the company in August 2024 from Chipotle. He receives $113 million in total compensation annually.

Last week, two hundred ski patrollers returned to work after accepting a new contract. By returning to work on Thursday, patrollers ended a nearly two-week strike which began on December 27^th amid the ski resort’s busiest season. Patrollers’ employer, Vail Resorts, agreed to a $2-an-hour base pay increase for senior ski patrollers among other key demands from workers. Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association reported that a livable wage in Park City surrounding the ski resort has risen to $27 per hour. The average home price in Park City is over $1.5 million.

Chuck Browning, a leader in the United Auto Workers for over two decades announced his retirement to local union leaders on Tuesday morning. Browning supported Shawn Fain’s UAW leadership and worked on a deal with Ford Motors during the union’s six-week strike in 2023. Browning currently leads negotiations between UAW and Volkswagen but is expected to retire once the deal is finalized. UAW leadership Shaw Fain commented, “Chuck Browning is not only one of the greatest bargainers in the labor movement, but one of our most powerful, generous, and capable leaders.”