Encore Boston Harbor Operates Amid Month-Long Strike by 1,300 Union Workers

The labor standoff at Encore Boston Harbor has entered its fourth week, with approximately 1,350 members of Teamsters Local 25 and Unite Here Local 26 walking picket lines outside the $2.6 billion resort since September 4. The strike was triggered when collective bargaining contracts expired, and union members across multiple departments - including housekeeping, food service, bartending, and slot operations - are seeking $10-per-hour pay increases over four years and a minimum starting wage of $25 per hour.

Wynn Resorts has presented a starkly different narrative about worker compensation. The company's negotiating team asserts that union employees already receive average total compensation of nearly $96,000 annually when combining base pay and benefits. Union representatives have disputed this characterization, noting that the figure includes tips and is inflated by high-tipped positions, arguing that base hourly wages do not reflect the headline compensation claim.

Despite the labor action, Wynn maintains that Encore Boston Harbor remains fully operational. Guest rooms continue to be serviced, slot machines and table games are active, and most of the resort's dining and beverage venues are open. The company acknowledges that certain amenities, including valet service, may be limited. To demonstrate operational readiness, Wynn has updated the resort's website with a guest information page and venue availability tracker. Most notably, the homepage now displays real-time wait times for casino cage cashier services and slot attendant responses to jackpot payouts, with the marketing tagline 'We can't wait to serve you.' According to Wynn, slot players winning $2,000 or more are typically attended to within two minutes, while cage cashier wait times average under three minutes.

The unions have launched a public boycott campaign, urging the broader community to avoid the resort until a fair contract is reached. Several municipal bodies have lent political support to the labor action. Both the Boston City Council and Everett City Council have passed resolutions pledging not to patronize Encore Boston Harbor until new labor terms are negotiated. Unite Here Local 26 has explicitly called on the public to 'not eat, meet, sleep, or gamble' at the property.

Striking workers in Massachusetts are generally ineligible for state unemployment benefits when they voluntarily participate in labor actions. Instead, the 1,350 picketing workers rely on union strike stipends, which provide compensation substantially below regular wages and are classified as taxable income. Union participation in picket duties is typically required to receive these stipends.

The financial impact of the ongoing labor dispute remains uncertain for Wynn. In August, before the strike commenced, Encore Boston Harbor reported gross gaming revenue of $62.9 million, substantially outpacing the state's other commercial properties. MGM Springfield generated $19.5 million and Plainridge Park Casino produced $15.2 million during the same period. A clearer picture of September's revenue performance will emerge when the Massachusetts Gaming Commission releases its official financial reports in mid-to-late October. This data will provide concrete insight into whether reduced staffing levels have measurably impacted gaming revenue during the strike period.