Encore Boston Harbor Accuses Unions of Ignoring Proposal; Teamsters, UNITE HERE Push Back
Encore Boston Harbor and its two workers’ unions—Teamsters Local 25 and UNITE HERE Local 26—agree on one point: they want to end the strike approaching Day 50 as quickly as possible. However, the two sides remain at odds over who is responsible for the contract stalemate. Tensions continue to escal…
Encore Boston Harbor and its two workers’ unions—Teamsters Local 25 and UNITE HERE Local 26—agree on one point: they want to end the strike approaching Day 50 as quickly as possible. However, the two sides remain at odds over who is responsible for the contract stalemate. UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 members walk the picket line outside Encore Boston Harbor. Wynn Resorts claims it’s had a fair contract offer on the table for a month, but the two unions have not responded to the offer. (Image: UNITE HERE Local 26/X) Tensions continue to escalate after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) revealed this week that September casino revenue at Encore declined 22% year-over-year to $46 million. With 1,300 UNITE HERE and Teamsters employees remaining off the job, business inside the Wynn Resorts property has suffered as consumers refuse to cross picket lines or stay away due to disrupted operations. The latest revenue numbers are a reminder that a profitable casino doesn’t run on its own. It runs on the hard work, dedication, and professionalism of the workers who make Encore Boston Harbor successful every day,” Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari said in a release to Casino.org. Calling union workers the “backbone” of Wynn’s five-star guest experience, Mari says the labor organizations continue to fight for what they deserve: a fair contract that reflects their hard work. Wynn Says Unions Nonresponsive A spokesperson with Wynn Resorts told Casino.org that the company offered a “significant economic proposal” over a month ago and is still awaiting a response from the unions. We put a significant economic proposal on the table in September. Since that time, we have been waiting for the unions’ response to move bargaining forward,” the Wynn spokesperson said. “September’s results demonstrate why a sustainable agreement matters—not only for our employees and the thousands of jobs Encore supports, but for Massachusetts. When Encore’s revenue declines, so does the tax revenue it generates for the Commonwealth.” The official said Wynn is committed to getting a deal done, and that the company never wants to see employees on a picket line. The unions said Wynn’s September offer fell far short of the “Boston standard” they deserve. “The message to Encore’s management is loud and clear: you cannot expect to be one of the region’s few five-star resorts without treating the workers who make it possible with the respect they deserve,” said Mari. Defining ‘Decent Wages’ UNITE HERE and Teamsters members working at Encore Boston Harbor are employed in various roles, including housekeepers, servers, cooks, bartenders, slot attendants, and warehouse personnel. Wynn claims the average union worker at Encore Boston Harbor makes almost $96,000 a year in pay and benefits. The unions say a few high earners skew the average, that the $96,000 figure isn’t take-home pay, and that the compensation includes tips that don’t weigh on Wynn’s bottom line. Union reps say most Wynn workers make between $15 and $32 per hour, or $31,200 to $66,560 a year. The unions want Encore Boston Harbor to raise the minimum starting wage to $25 an hour and increase pay for all union members by $10 per hour over the next four years. The post Encore Boston Harbor Accuses Unions of Ignoring Proposal; Teamsters, UNITE HERE Push Back appeared first on Casino.org.