More than 1,300 Encore Boston Harbor workers are still off the job. They went on strike Friday after contract negotiations with casino owner Wynn Resorts broke down. The walkout is being led by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25.
UNITE HERE posted video of the striking workers on its X account. The post's description read: "More than a thousand workers employed at Massachusetts’ most profitable casino are striking for job security, union-standard wages, and funding to guarantee their benefits."
The strike should not have come as a surprise to Encore Boston management. It's a story we told you was developing last week, in the days leading up to the long holiday weekend.
Workers say they will keep picketing until a new contract is reached, arguing that their pay and protections no longer match the property’s luxury status.
What Sparked the Encore Boston Harbor Strike?
The collective bargaining agreements for UNITE HERE and Teamsters members expired on Aug. 31, 2026, and both sides failed to agree on a new deal by the deadline. In mid-August, union members voted overwhelmingly—about 97% in favor—to authorize a strike if no contract was reached, setting the stage for the walkout that began Friday morning.
Encore Boston Harbor remains open, with management and non-union staff covering shifts, but the picket line has grown into a major Labor Day weekend story in Everett.
The casino has become well known over the years, for its big payouts and jackpot winners. This is also the casino that once paid out over $43 million in jackpots in one month.
Who Is Striking at Encore Boston Harbor?
The strike includes a wide range of frontline roles represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25, the latter covering about 211 members in warehouse, horticulture, call center, cage cashiers, limo/valet, dispatchers, and related jobs. Striking workers include:
- Housekeepers and groundskeepers
- Cooks, servers, bartenders, and food-and-beverage staff
- Slot attendants and cage cashiers
- Valet and limousine drivers, dispatchers, and guest-experience attendants
WCVB-TV reported that workers describe the strike as a unifying moment across cultures and job titles. “We are a group of people from different cultures and experiences, and the fact that we can all come together and be here as one to get what we all want together, because we all do deserve it,” said valet cashier Melissa Velasquez.
Union Demands: Wages, Benefits, and Job Security
UNITE HERE and Teamsters Local 25 leaders say their key demands focus on pay that matches other unionized Boston-area hotels, plus protections as automation spreads through the casino. Their main requests include:
- Wage increases: About $10 per hour over three years for non-tipped workers and $5 per hour for tipped workers, to align with downtown Boston union hotel standards.
- Starting pay floor: Some union materials also call for raising the minimum base pay to $25 an hour.
- Benefits: Preservation of existing healthcare, pension, and other benefits from the prior contract.
- Job security: Stronger staffing-level guarantees and protections against job losses tied to automation and industry changes.
Union leaders argue Encore’s luxury branding should come with luxury wages. In an interview with WCVB-TV, Nancy Campbell of Teamsters Local 25 said. “Right now, they want to claim that they’re a five-star resort, and they are paying three-star wages,” Cook Keenan Green echoed that point: “We’ve got hotels that are downtown that don’t make half as much money as Encore that are getting better wages than us.”
Wynn Resorts and Encore’s Position on the Strike
Encore Boston Harbor disputes the unions’ claims, saying compensation has already gone up significantly.
The company reports that wages and benefits for employees represented by UNITE HERE and the Teamsters increased nearly 37% over the past four years, while company revenue grew just under 2% in the same period. Encore also says the average represented employee earns about $95,000 annually in combined wages and benefits.
In a statement, Encore emphasized its commitment to a sustainable deal: “We are committed to finding common ground that is fair, financially sustainable and protects jobs for the long term.”
A Wynn Resorts spokesperson added that “the unions have chosen to initiate a strike despite our continued efforts to reach an agreement through negotiations,” and noted the property remains open and operational.
Local, state, and federal officials have joined workers on the picket line, including U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley.
Pressley framed the strike in broad economic terms: “We believe another world is possible, one that chooses people over profits, workers over billionaires, and freedom over fascism.”
Why the Encore Boston Harbor–UNITE HERE Strike Matters for iGaming and Casinos
The Encore strike sits at the intersection of several big industry trends:
- Labor power in gaming: A 97% strike-authorization vote shows strong union cohesion at a major Northeast casino.
- Automation and job protections: Workers are explicitly seeking safeguards as technology changes casino operations.
- Regional pay parity: The push to match downtown Boston union hotel wages highlights how casino pay is benchmarked against the broader hospitality market.
- Revenue vs. compensation debate: Encore’s argument that compensation rose far faster than revenue is a common theme in casino labor disputes.
For readers tracking casinos, sports betting, and prediction markets, the outcome could influence labor costs, staffing models, and even competitive dynamics among Boston-area resorts.
What Comes Next in the Encore Boston Harbor Strike?
Negotiations between UNITE HERE Local 26, Teamsters Local 25, and Wynn Resorts remain ongoing, but both sides describe talks as stalled.
Workers say they will continue picketing until a new contract is reached, while Encore says it will keep operating and remain “ready to service guests” during negotiations.
