Encore Boston Harbor Workers Strike Over Pay, Benefits, Job Security
More than 1,300 workers at Wynn Resorts’ Encore Boston Harbor walked off the job at 7 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, after failing to reach a new labor agreement before their previous contract expired on Aug. 31.
The Everett, Massachusetts, property has stayed open throughout the walkout, which is now entering its second weekend.
The striking employees are members of UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25, representing roughly 41% of Encore’s workforce, including housekeepers, cooks, servers, bartenders, slot attendants, warehouse staff and drivers.
Workers Authorized The Strike With A 97% Vote
Workers authorized the strike by an overwhelming margin on Aug. 20, with 1,006 votes in favor and 53 against, according to a Teamsters statement.
The union framed the vote as a mandate to walk out if the two sides could not agree on a new contract before the August 31 deadline.
Members are seeking wage increases, stronger healthcare and pension benefits and job-security protections. “The strike is about wages, it’s about benefits, and it’s about our job security,” striking Encore worker Kathy Woodard said.
Employees Say Pay Has Not Kept Pace
“This is a 5-star resort. We need to be paid and treated like we’re 5-star employees,” said Keenan Green, a shop steward for UNITE HERE Local 26.
James Atkins, chief shop steward for Teamsters Local 25, said workers believe the property can afford to pay more, citing Encore's nearly $700 million in gaming revenue last year.
Workers on the picket line have also argued that pay has not kept pace with the rising cost of living in the Boston area.
Encore Boston Harbor Disputes The Union's Framing
Encore Boston Harbor disputed that characterization in a statement, saying that over the past four years, wages and benefits for UNITE HERE and Teamsters members grew 36.8% while the property’s revenue grew 1.9% and consumer prices in Boston rose 8.5%.
The company said the average employee represented by the two unions earns $95,000 a year in combined wages and benefits.
A Wynn Resorts spokesperson said the company remains open to negotiating a resolution. “The unions have chosen to initiate a strike despite our continued efforts to reach an agreement through negotiations,” the spokesperson said.
“We are committed to finding common ground that is fair, financially sustainable and protects jobs for the long term.”
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Part Of A Broader Wave Of Casino Labor Talks
The walkout follows a wave of casino labor negotiations across the U.S. this year.
All nine Atlantic City casinos reached new labor deals over the summer without a strike, though the unions there settled for shorter, one-year contracts rather than the customary three-or-more-year terms, citing uncertainty from looming competition in New York City and New Jersey’s own online casino market.
In Las Vegas, the Culinary Union has unionized the entire Strip and secured historic wage increases in its most recent round of negotiations.
For now, Encore remains operational, and picketing employees say they intend to keep pressing the casino for a new contract rather than end the action.
Sources: WCVB and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
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