Encore Boston Harbor Workers Launch Strike as Contract Talks Stall

More than 1,300 workers at the Encore Boston Harbor casino resort in Everett, Massachusetts walked off the job Friday morning after their contract expired on August 31 and negotiations failed to produce a new agreement; the employees, represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25, cited stalled progress on wage increases, benefit improvements, job security measures, and pay parity with downtown Boston hotels as the core reasons for the action.

The casino, owned by Wynn Resorts, has remained open throughout the strike with replacement and non-union staff filling key roles while management continues to operate gaming floors, hotel services, and dining outlets; union members have established picket lines at entrances, and both sides have confirmed that talks are ongoing without a set timeline for resumption of full operations.

Key Demands Driving the Action

Union representatives outlined specific proposals that include a $10 per hour wage increase spread over three years for non-tipped workers, enhanced health and retirement benefits, stronger protections against layoffs or subcontracting, and alignment of compensation rates with those at comparable properties in Boston proper; these points emerged after months of bargaining sessions that began well before the August 31 deadline and intensified as the expiration date approached.

Observers note that similar contracts at other regional hospitality sites have included comparable raises and parity