More than 1,000 union workers at Encore Boston Harbor are prepared to go on strike on Sept. 4 if a new contract agreement is not reached with the luxury casino resort.
The collective bargaining contracts for about 1,350 employees at Encore Boston Harbor, including housekeepers, cooks, servers, bartenders, slot attendants, reservationists, and warehouse workers, expired on Aug. 31.
Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 are requesting hourly pay increases of $10 over four years and assurances that current health care and pension benefits will remain intact. The unions are also advocating for a starting base pay of $25 per hour for all members.
“We’re prepared for a work stoppage if a deal is not reached,” said Rosa Mendoza, a call center worker and union steward at Teamsters Local 25. “Now is the time for management to give us a fair contract that reflects our hard work. If we go out on strike, we ask Boston families to stand with us and honor the picket line.”
“Nobody notices this work until it is not done. What we are asking for is not complicated. Keep the coverage we have. Let me know this job is still here a few years from now if I don’t do anything wrong,” said housekeeper Yamilka Caidor.
Wynn Resorts ‘Committed’ to Employees
Wynn Resorts discussed the labor dispute at Encore Boston Harbor with Casino.org this week. The Las Vegas-based casino operator’s objective is to maintain long-term stable employment through a mutually agreeable contract.
Wynn emphasizes that a “fair agreement” must be based on financial realities.
Over the past four years, Unite Here and Teamsters wages and benefits at Encore Boston Harbor grew 36.8%. Revenue grew 1.9%. Consumer prices in Boston rose 8.5% over the same period. Our employees’ wages have significantly outpaced inflation. Sustaining that requires an agreement that reflects where the business actually is,” the company said.
Wynn acknowledges that the gaming industry has evolved since the previous labor negotiations, citing increased competition in neighboring states and the rise of online sports betting.
Since its opening in June 2019, Wynn Resorts states that it has disbursed over $1.3 billion in wages and benefits to employees at the $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor, generating more than 3,300 jobs.
Average Encore Boston Harbor Compensation
Wynn Resorts reveals that under the existing union contracts, the average Unite Here/Teamsters employee at Encore Boston Harbor earns $95,718 in pay and benefits.
The casino union workers at Wynn assert that their compensation exceeds the average wages and benefits of comparable positions in Greater Boston, which stand at $80,639.
“Encore Boston Harbor has invested in its workforce since day one – competitive wages, strong benefits, and stable careers. We are approaching these negotiations in good faith, with open communication and a genuine desire to reach an agreement that works for everyone,” the company stated.