Encore Boston Harbor Strike Ends After 1,300 Workers Ratify New Contract

A two-month strike that disrupted operations at Wynn Resorts’ Encore Boston Harbor casino and coincided with a sharp decline in gaming revenue ended Thursday (Nov. 5) after approximately 1,300 workers ratified a new labor contract. Encore Boston Harbor workers on the picket line in September 2026. The 63-day strike ended Thursday after approximately 1,300 employees ratified a new contract. (Image: Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe/Getty) Employees represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 walked out Sept. 4, days after their previous agreement expired. Striking workers included housekeepers, cooks, servers, bartenders, slot attendants, and warehouse staff at the Everett, Massachusetts, resort. While the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement have not been made public, the unions had sought pay comparable to that at unionized downtown Boston hotels, stronger job protections, and the preservation of healthcare benefits and guaranteed hours. “Our members walked out not knowing what came next. They held the line through cold, rain and storm, and they held it together,” Carlos Aramayo, president of UNITE HERE Local 26, said in an official statement. “Now they go back in as partners with Encore Boston Harbor, with respect on both sides,” he added. Wynn welcomed the settlement, saying it had reached an agreement that worked for its employees and the resort’s long-term future. The company said it looked forward to having its entire workforce together again. Casino Revenue Slumps The strike saw picketers stationed outside Encore for more than two months, with unions urging visitors to boycott the casino while the dispute continued. The resort remained open throughout the stoppage. Massachusetts Gaming Commission figures show Encore generated $46.1 million in gross gaming revenue in September, down approximately 22% from $59.1 million a year earlier. That was its lowest monthly total since February 2021. By comparison, gaming revenues at Massachusetts’ two other casinos, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park, remained relatively stable. Wynn reported Thursday that Encore’s total third-quarter operating revenue fell to $194.7 million from $211.8 million a year earlier. Its adjusted property EBITDAR declined from $58.4 million to $50.1 million. During Wynn’s earnings call earlier Thursday, CEO Craig Billings described the strike as a “modest headwind,” while announcing that management had reached a framework for a settlement with union leaders. Political Support for Strikers The strike also garnered support from Massachusetts politicians, including Gov. Maura Healey, who visited the picket line, and federal lawmakers who questioned Wynn about the dispute. Icylyn Whittaker, an Encore public-area worker for seven years, said the experience had changed her understanding of collective action, according to the unions’ statement announcing the agreement. “Before, I was a union member. Now I know what it means to be the union,” she said. The unions said members would return to work together and resume serving guests following the ratification vote. The post Encore Boston Harbor Strike Ends After 1,300 Workers Ratify New Contract appeared first on Casino.org.