Encore Boston Harbor Union Members Set Strike Authorization Vote for Mid-August
Zara Schmitz · Aug 19, 2026
Encore Boston Harbor Union Members Set Strike Authorization Vote for Mid-August
Union workers at Wynn Resorts’ Encore Boston Harbor casino have scheduled a vote on strike authorization for August 19 and 20, with potential action beginning September 1 if current contracts are not renewed under new terms. The 1,350 members from Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 represent a range of roles at the Everett, Massachusetts property, and their contracts expire August 31.
Negotiations center on wage increases above the existing $25 per hour minimum along with enhanced pension benefits. Union representatives have pointed to the casino’s financial results as context for their demands, noting nearly $847 million in total revenue and $236.7 million in adjusted EBITDA recorded for 2025.
Contract Timeline and Union Positions
The upcoming vote will determine whether workers authorize leadership to call a strike if talks do not produce agreements before the September 1 deadline. Both locals have indicated that pension improvements remain a priority alongside hourly pay adjustments, while management has not yet released a public statement detailing its latest offer.
Observers note that the August 19-20 balloting comes at a point when the property’s revenue figures for the prior year already reflect sustained operations despite a 4.2 percent decline in adjusted EBITDA from 2024 levels. The unions have framed their proposals around maintaining workforce stability at a facility that continues to generate substantial income.
Financial Performance Details
According to industry reporting, Encore Boston Harbor posted the cited revenue and EBITDA totals for calendar year 2025, figures that union statements reference when discussing the need for contract improvements. Those numbers place the property among larger revenue producers in the regional market even after the modest year-over-year dip in adjusted earnings.
Data shows the casino maintained strong overall performance through the period, which union leaders cite when explaining why members seek higher compensation and better retirement provisions. The 1,350 workers covered by the two locals include positions across food service, housekeeping, gaming operations, and transportation services.
Broader Context for Regional Gaming Employment
Massachusetts gaming regulators have tracked employment trends at the state’s three casino properties, and Encore Boston Harbor remains one of the largest single-site employers in the metro Boston area. Contract cycles at other facilities have occasionally involved similar authorization votes, though each property negotiates separately with its represented workforce.
Those who follow labor developments in the sector point out that pension funding and wage floors often surface as key issues when contracts near expiration. The current round at Encore Boston Harbor aligns with patterns seen at other unionized gaming sites where revenue data becomes part of the public discussion around bargaining positions.
Next Steps in the Process
If the authorization vote passes, union leadership would gain the ability to initiate a work stoppage beginning September 1 should no agreement be reached by that date. Management and union teams continue to meet, with both sides providing limited public updates on the status of specific proposals.
State labor laws in Massachusetts govern notice requirements and picketing rules should a strike occur, and local officials in Everett have not indicated any special preparations beyond standard contingency planning. The outcome of the mid-August vote will shape whether talks intensify or whether the parties prepare for potential disruptions.
Conclusion
The scheduled strike authorization vote at Encore Boston Harbor reflects ongoing contract negotiations between Wynn Resorts and the two unions representing 1,350 workers. Revenue and earnings figures from 2025 form part of the backdrop cited by labor representatives, while the August 19-20 balloting will determine next steps if agreements are not finalized before contracts expire August 31. Further developments will depend on the vote results and the pace of remaining bargaining sessions.