Encore workers ratify agreement ending strike
Unionized employees at Encore Boston Harbor ratified a new collective bargaining agreement on November 5, ending the strike that began September 4. More than 1,300 workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 were covered by the dispute at Wynn Resorts’ Everett, Massachusetts, property.
The Teamsters described the settlement as a five-and-a-half-year agreement with wage increases, stronger benefits, and improvements to working conditions. Its November 6 announcement said members overwhelmingly approved the contract. The published summary did not provide a detailed wage schedule or the full terms of the agreement.
The represented workforce spans casino and resort operations. The Teamsters identified 211 members working in warehouse, horticulture, call center, cage cashier, limousine, dispatch, traffic, valet and guest experience departments. Local 26’s represented roles also include hospitality employees such as housekeepers, cooks, servers and bartenders.
Resort operated throughout the stoppage
The unions sought improved pay, benefits and job protections following the expiration of the previous contract. Local 26 confirmed the ratification on its website and said members would return as one team with Local 25. Encore remained open during the stoppage, which extended through much of September and October.
The agreement came on the day Wynn released its third-quarter financial results. Encore Boston Harbor reported operating revenue of $194.7 million, compared with $211.8 million a year earlier, and adjusted property EBITDAR of $50.1 million, down from $58.4 million. Those quarterly figures cover the period ended September 30.
Wynn welcomed the agreement in a statement carried by local broadcasters, saying it worked for employees and the resort’s long-term future. The company said it looked forward to reuniting its workforce. Local 26’s public announcement confirmed the contract’s ratification and welcomed guests back following the settlement.
