Encore Boston Harbor Strike Ends After Workers Ratify New Contract
The strike at Encore Boston Harbor is over. Members of UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Everett casino resort, the unions announced on Thursday, November 5, 2026, according to the Boston Globe.
The walkout began on September 4 and kept about 1,300 workers off the job, including bartenders, waitstaff, housekeepers, slot attendants, groundskeepers, drivers and warehouse staff. The details of the new agreement were not disclosed in the unions' release.
What Each Side Said
Carlos Aramayo, president of UNITE HERE Local 26, said members had walked out not knowing what came next and had held together through cold, rain and storms, according to WCVB. He said workers now return as partners with Encore Boston Harbor, with respect on both sides, and thanked the community for standing with them.
Wynn Resorts, which owns the property, said in a statement to WCVB that it was pleased to have reached an agreement that works for its employees and for the long-term future of Encore Boston Harbor. The company said it looks forward to welcoming union employees back so that its whole team is together again.
How The Dispute Unfolded
The earlier contract expired on August 31, and the unions said negotiations with Wynn Resorts failed to produce a new deal. NBC Boston reported that workers were demanding better wages and job protections, while management said at the start of the strike that it was committed to a compromise that was fair and financially sustainable.
Our original report on the Encore Boston Harbor workers striking over pay, benefits and job security noted that workers had authorized the walkout with 1,006 votes in favor and 53 against, and that the resort stayed open throughout.
The Cost To The Casino
The unions represented roughly 41% of the resort's workforce, and the property stayed open through the walkout. The strike weighed on results. As we reported, Encore's gaming tax payment hit a five-year low in September, at $11.5 million, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's September revenue report.
Gross gaming revenue was $46.1 million, down from $59.1 million a year earlier, and slot coin-in fell 20.3% to $354.4 million. Massachusetts' other casinos held broadly steady that month, with MGM Springfield revenue down 1.2% and Plainridge Park Casino up 2.4%.
October figures from the commission have not yet been published, so it is not yet clear how much of the impact carried into the following month. Encore Boston Harbor is Wynn Resorts' Massachusetts property, opened in Everett in 2019.
Contributions Recognized
According to the unions, employees are excited to return to work, and NBC Boston said the union described the agreement as recognizing the contribution of its members and reflecting a shared commitment.
The ratification means the full workforce can return, but the unions' release gave no timetable for the return to work.
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