A roughly two-month strike at Encore Boston Harbor has ended after union members approved a new labor agreement. Workers have already begun returning to the Everett, Massachusetts, casino. The strike started in September.
The agreement closes a dispute involving about 1,300 workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25. It also marks a step toward restoring regular service at the Wynn Resorts property, which stayed open throughout the walkout.
However, the contract’s financial terms have not been publicly released. That leaves important questions about wages, benefits, and scheduling unanswered.
Workers Approve New Encore Boston Harbor Union Contract
The breakthrough became public during Wynn Resorts’ third-quarter earnings call.
CEO Craig Billings said management and union leadership had reached a framework for resolving the strike. Union leaders had recommended the proposed agreement to their members, and Billings expressed confidence that workers would approve it.
Members ratified the contract. Some employees began returning to work around 6 a.m. on Friday, November 6.
The timing matters: management’s announcement described a proposed resolution, while the membership vote made the agreement final and ended the strike.
Both sides welcomed the outcome. Union leaders highlighted workers’ solidarity and their importance to the resort. Encore and Wynn said the agreement supports employees while protecting the property’s long-term future.
Why Encore Casino Workers Went on Strike
The workers’ previous collective-bargaining agreements expired on August 31. The walkout began September 4, following a strike authorization vote that received more than 95% support.
The dispute involved employees across many parts of the resort, including:
- Housekeepers and cooks
- Bartenders and servers
- Slot attendants
- Drivers and warehouse staff
- Workers sought higher wages that would align more closely with pay at unionized downtown Boston hotels. They also pushed to protect healthcare and other benefits, strengthen job security, and secure guaranteed hours.
Those demands put both compensation and stability at the center of the negotiations. The dispute was not only about hourly pay, but also about the benefits and work schedules employees could count on.
Without the final contract language, it is not yet possible to say how fully the agreement addresses each demand.
Casino Stayed Open, but Revenue Declined
Encore Boston Harbor continued operating during the strike, although some services were limited. Unions also urged customers to boycott the property.
September gaming revenue fell roughly 20% to 22% compared with the same month a year earlier, reaching about $46 million, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission figures cited in the supplied reporting.
Wynn’s quarterly results also showed weaker performance at Encore:
Adjusted property EBITDAR is a measure of property earnings that excludes certain expenses. It is not the same as net profit.
The declines coincided with the labor dispute, but the available information does not establish how much of the decrease the strike caused. The third-quarter figures also cover a broader period than the September walkout alone.
Labor Dispute Drew Political Support
The strike attracted attention beyond Everett. Public officials supporting workers included Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Gov. Maura Healey.
Their involvement brought wider visibility to a dispute over pay, benefits, and working conditions at one of the state’s major casino properties.
Wynn, meanwhile, has pointed to rising labor costs and competitive pressures when discussing Encore’s business outlook. That context helps explain why management emphasized the agreement’s long-term financial viability.
What Remains Unknown About the Agreement
The strike is over, but the contract details remain the biggest missing piece.
Workers and the public are still waiting for specifics on wage increases, healthcare protections, guaranteed hours, job security, and the agreement’s duration. Billings indicated that additional financial information would come on a future earnings call.
For now, the confirmed outcome described in the reporting is narrower than either side’s broader goals: union members approved a contract, the walkout ended, and employees began returning to work. The full terms will show how the settlement balances workers’ priorities with Encore Boston Harbor’s operating costs.
