Encore Boston Harbor workers set Friday strike deadline
More than 1,300 casino workers could walk off the job if unions fail to reach a new agreement with Encore Boston Harbor in Everett.
US.- More than 1,300 workers at Encore Boston Harbor could go on strike at 7am Friday if unions fail to reach an agreement. Contracts expired on Monday night, and employees, including housekeepers, slot attendants, waitstaff, delivery drivers and grounds staff represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 approved a strike authorisation in mid-August.
The unions are seeking wage increases of $10 over three years for non-tipped employees and $5 for tipped workers, which Local 26 president Carlos Aramayo said would bring wages in line with other unionised hotels in the area. They also want to preserve job security and healthcare provisions from the previous agreement, including a requirement guaranteeing a certain number of working hours. Workers say Encore is seeking to remove that provision and have healthcare costs effectively deducted from proposed wage increases.
Encore has said that any new agreement must be “grounded in financial reality,” while emphasising long-term job protection. The casino has faced increased competition from properties in neighbouring states, as well as online sports betting and other gambling options.
The resort has also experienced setbacks with some recent ventures. Encore closed Seamark Seafood & Cocktails in March after less than two years of operation, citing “economic challenges,” while a $28m investment to convert part of a restaurant into a sportsbook in 2023 performed poorly.
