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On Thursday, November 5, unions representing employees of Encore Boston Harbor Resort and Casino announced a deal officially ending their 63-day strike. The two unions, UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25, said that they successfully ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the casino.
As a result, the approximately 1,300 employees are now back to work. The casino resort is fully operational.
The strike
The strike started on September 4. It was triggered by the expiration of the prior collective bargaining agreement with casino operator Wynn Resorts on August 31. According to the union coalition, the company refused to bargain in good faith after the agreement’s expiration, prompting the strike.
The unions decided to strike for three primary reasons.
First, they wanted the “Boston standard” wage gap closed. They wanted Encore Boston Harbor to pay the same wages as unionized hotels in downtown Boston. The resort is located in Everett, Massachusetts. Notably, non-tipped workers demanded a $25-per-hour minimum starting wage to cover the rising cost of living. They also demanded a $10-per-hour wage increase over the next four years.
Second, the workers demanded that their existing health care benefits be fully preserved. Moreover, they wanted the casino resort to expand contributions toward their pension funds without taking on higher out-of-pocket costs.
Lastly, the workers demanded stronger workplace protections and job security. They wanted clear peace-of-mind clauses to protect their positions. They also demanded guaranteed weekly hours.
The repercussions
Across different positions, 97% of all employees walked off the job. The walkout included cooks, drivers, slot attendants, bartenders, warehouse workers, and waiters. As a result, the resort casino took a significant hit on its revenues.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported that Encore’s gross gaming revenue fell by 22.1% in September 2026 compared with the same period the previous year. The decline marked the lowest revenue performance since February 2021.
Beyond the lost casino revenue, various operations were disrupted or halted entirely. Wynn Resorts closed multiple restaurants, paused valet parking, and suspended its free water shuttle service.
The new collective bargaining agreement
More than 1,300 union workers at Encore Boston Harbor overwhelmingly voted to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement. The complete financial terms of the agreement remain undisclosed.
However, union leaders said that the new five-and-a-half-year pact fully preserves health care benefits, introduces enhanced job protections, and significantly increases wages to align with the “Boston standard.”
