Encore Boston Harbor Strike Escalates as 1,300 Union Workers Demand Wage Increases

Over 1,300 union workers representing Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 at Encore Boston Harbor initiated a strike on September 4, 2026, after collective bargaining negotiations reached an impasse. The workers, employed across multiple departments including front desk, housekeeping, food service, and warehouse operations, continued their around-the-clock picket line outside the property's main Broadway entrance through Labor Day on September 7.

The unions' core demands center on wage improvements and benefit protections. They are seeking $10-per-hour raises distributed over four years, increased starting wages of $25 per hour across all union positions, and guarantees preserving current health care and pension benefits. These demands emerged after the collective bargaining contracts for both unions expired on August 31, 2026.

Wynn Resorts has countered union claims by emphasizing that current compensation already exceeds market standards. The company asserts that union employees average nearly $96,000 annually when total pay and benefits are combined, and maintains the resort is operating normally despite the strike. Management argues that the unions' wage demands would create unsustainable labor costs that could jeopardize employment levels at the property.

The unions have characterized Wynn's negotiating posture as a refusal to bargain in good faith. The symbolic timing of the strike during Labor Day weekend underscored the workers' message, with Teamsters officials canceling their annual Labor Day cookout to support the picket line. Unite Here and Teamsters leadership used the occasion to connect the current dispute to historical labor movements, noting the anniversary of the first Labor Day observance, which originated from worker protests organized by the Central Labor Union in New York City on September 5, 1882.

The Encore Boston Harbor strike reflects broader labor dynamics within the U.S. casino industry, where wages, benefits, and working conditions have become flashpoints between operators and unionized workforces. Similar disputes have emerged at other major properties, including recent labor negotiations and actions at Las Vegas Strip properties. As the casino industry continues to operate in a competitive labor market, particularly in premium hospitality settings like Wynn's luxury resorts, wage and benefits demands are likely to persist.

The outcome of negotiations at Encore Boston Harbor could influence labor expectations across the regional casino market and potentially set precedent for union demands at other Wynn Resorts properties. The Boston property, which has generated significant revenue for Wynn since opening, represents a material asset for the operator, making extended labor disruption a concern for both parties to resolve.