Encore Boston Harbor Union Members Prepare August 2026 Strike Authorization Vote

More than 1,350 union workers at Encore Boston Harbor face an August 19–20 vote on strike authorization while their contracts with Wynn Resorts expire August 31, and the two sides have yet to reach new terms on wages and retirement benefits.

UNITE HERE Local 26 together with Teamsters Local 25 represent the employees who handle housekeeping, food service, maintenance and transportation roles at the Everett property, and both organizations have stated they want the current $25 hourly minimum raised along with stronger pension contributions that reflect the casino’s financial results.

Contract Timeline and Vote Details

The existing agreements reach their end date on August 31, which means any new deal must be finalized before midnight on September 1 if a work stoppage is to be avoided, while the authorization vote scheduled for August 19–20 gives union leaders a clear mandate should negotiations stall.

Ballots will be cast over two days so that workers on different shifts can participate, and a majority vote in favor would allow the unions to call a strike that begins after the contracts lapse.

Union Proposals and Casino Revenue Figures

Union negotiators point to nearly $847 million in 2025 revenue at Encore Boston Harbor as evidence that the property can support higher compensation, and they have presented wage scales that exceed the present $25 floor plus enhanced funding for pension plans that cover long-term employees.

According to the casino.org report covering the dispute, the unions argue that sustained guest demand and strong operating margins justify immediate improvements in pay and retirement security before the current contracts end.

Management has not publicly detailed its counter-offer at this stage, yet the revenue data released for the full 2025 calendar year continues to serve as the central reference point in bargaining sessions.

Potential Impact on Operations

A strike that starts September 1 would affect daily functions across the casino floor, hotel, restaurants and transportation services, while the property’s management would need to rely on non-union staff or temporary replacements to maintain continuous service.

Observers note that past labor actions at other Massachusetts gaming facilities have been short, yet the size of the workforce involved here means any prolonged stoppage could influence guest traffic and event bookings throughout the fall season.

State labor records show that UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 have coordinated bargaining at multiple hospitality sites in the region, and the current talks follow that established pattern of joint strategy on wages and benefits.

Next Steps in Negotiations

Both sides continue to meet before the August 19–20 vote, and any tentative agreement reached in the coming weeks would still require ratification by the membership even if strike authorization passes.

Should no deal be reached by the August 31 deadline, the unions retain the option to set a strike date after midnight on September 1 while keeping open the possibility of further mediation through state or federal channels.

Data maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor tracks similar hospitality contract expirations across New England, and those figures indicate that most disputes of this scale reach resolution either just before or shortly after the deadline when revenue performance remains strong.

Conclusion

The August 19–20 authorization vote at Encore Boston Harbor therefore represents the immediate next milestone in a process that ties directly to contract expiration on August 31 and the revenue benchmark of nearly $847 million recorded in 2025, with the outcome determining whether operations continue uninterrupted after September 1 or face a work stoppage supported by more than 1,350 employees represented by UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25.