More than 1,300 employees returned to work at Encore Boston Harbor on November 6 after voting the night before to approve a new union contract. The agreement ends a walkout that began on September 4 at the Wynn Resorts casino in Everett, Massachusetts.
The Contract Raises Pay and Preserves Health Coverage
The previous contract expired on August 31. Workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 went on strike four days later, seeking higher wages, continued health coverage and stronger job protections.
The new contract runs for five and a half years. A spokesperson for the workers said it delivers raises, preserves health coverage and includes job security provisions. The unions and casino management did not publicly release the wage scales or detailed terms.
The Casino Stayed Open, but Some Dining Outlets Closed
The walkout reached well beyond the gaming floor. Slot attendants joined housekeepers, cooks, servers and warehouse staff on strike. Wynn Resorts kept the resort open, but its quarterly filing said some food and beverage outlets closed during the dispute. With employees back on shift, the resort can begin restoring the services it scaled back.
September Was the Casino’s Weakest Gaming Month in Years
Encore recorded about $46.1 million in gross gaming revenue in September, down 22.1% from $59.1 million a year earlier. It was the casino’s lowest monthly total since February 2021, according to Massachusetts Gaming Commission figures reported by WBUR. The comparison shows how far gaming revenue fell during the first month of the walkout, though it does not isolate how much of the decline the strike caused.
