More than 1,300 employees at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts, are preparing to strike Friday at 7 a.m. if a new labor deal is not reached before then.
The deadline is the result of the labor contracts expiring on Monday for workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25.
Wynn Resorts, the property operator, has experienced challenges in the industry. Profit declines for casinos on the Las Vegas Strip were significant throughout 2025, and Wynn’s profit has lagged behind 2024 levels. However, revenue and profit have increased slightly this quarter.
Encore’s year-over-year performance has slightly declined during the same period. The resort attributes this to increased competition from neighboring state casinos and the rise of online sports betting.
Over 1,000 workers voted in mid-August to approve the strike, including roles such as housekeeping, slot attendants, waitstaff, delivery drivers, and grounds crews.
Local 26 president Carlos Aramayo stated that the union’s request is for non-tipped staff to receive a $10 raise over three years and tipped staff to receive a $5 raise, aligning pay with other unionized hotels in the region. The unions claim Encore’s offer is less than half of this amount.
Job security is also a point of contention. The previous contract guaranteed a specific number of staffed hours, a provision that Encore is now seeking to remove. Workers also allege that the company’s proposal would deduct healthcare costs from wage increases rather than providing separate funding for coverage.
In negotiation fact sheets distributed by Encore, the expectation is that any new agreement should be based on financial realities, prioritizing long-term job stability and economic viability. The document specifies that short-term proposals disconnected from these conditions will not protect jobs.
Encore’s recent business decisions have been scrutinized during the negotiation process. The resort closed Seamark Seafood & Cocktails in March, citing economic challenges, less than two years after the restaurant opened and shortly after its staff voted to unionize.
In 2023, Encore invested $28 million in converting restaurant space into a sportsbook, a move that resort president Jenny Holaday later acknowledged may not yield a positive return.
Encore workers previously voted to strike in 2023 but reached a new contract before the current one expired. This time, after setting a Friday deadline, union members held picket line rehearsals and trained picket captains outside the resort despite earlier rain.