Wynn reaches preliminary deal to end Encore Boston Harbor strike
The financial and contractual terms have not been disclosed.
US.- Members of Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 ratified a new collective bargaining agreement to end strike action at Encore Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. CEO Craig Billings had announced an agreement during the company’s third-quarter earnings call on November 5 and a vote was held the same day. The financial and contractual terms have not been disclosed.
Union leadership advised members to accept the proposal, which Billings described as fair and financially sustainable over the long term.
“Our members walked out not knowing what came next. They held the line through cold, rain and storm, and they held it together,” said Carlos Aramayo, President of UNITE HERE Local 26. “Now they go back in as partners with Encore Boston Harbor, with respect on both sides. This community stood with us. Now we get to give it the five-star service it deserves.”
More than 1,300 workers at Encore Boston Harbor, including housekeepers, slot attendants, waitstaff, delivery drivers and grounds staff, went on strike on September 4, after the previous agreements expired on August 31. Workers sought wage increases of US$10 over three years for non-tipped employees and US$5 for tipped workers, comparable to those secured by employees at unionised hotels in downtown Boston. Their demands also included healthcare protections, the preservation of existing benefits, improved job security and guaranteed working hours.
The casino’s September tax contribution to Massachusetts fell to its lowest level in more than five and a half years at US$11.5m compared with US$14.8m in September 2025. The Everett casino reported US$46.1m in gaming revenue for the month, down more than 22 per cent year on year.
Beyond the labour agreement, Billings indicated that Wynn’s immediate investment priority remains Wynn Al Marjan Island, the US$5.1bn resort in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, which is scheduled to open on September 27, 2027. Billings said most project costs are now substantially locked in. The handover of completed areas to the operations team is expected to begin in stages in the new year, while recruitment and employee training are already underway.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Why did workers strike at Encore Boston Harbor? The strike began on September 4, after previous agreements expired on August 31. Workers sought wage increases of US$10 over three years for non-tipped employees and US$5 for tipped workers, plus healthcare protections, preserved benefits, improved job security and guaranteed working hours.
- How did the strike affect Encore Boston Harbor? Massachusetts collected just over US$11.5m in taxes from the casino in September 2026, compared with US$14.8m in September 2025, the lowest level in more than five and a half years. Gaming revenue was US$46.1m, down more than 22 per cent year on year.
