Union Members at Encore Boston Harbor Prepare Strike Authorization Vote Ahead of August Contract Deadlines

Workers from Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25, representing roughly 1,350 employees at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts, will conduct a strike authorization vote across August 19 and 20 while they negotiate higher wages and stronger pension benefits before their contracts expire on August 31. The property, operated by Wynn Resorts, faces the possibility of a work stoppage beginning September 1 if the authorization passes and talks stall, and observers note that such votes often serve as leverage during bargaining sessions rather than immediate guarantees of action.

Contract Negotiations and Worker Demands

Negotiators for the two unions seek adjustments in pay scales and retirement contributions that reflect recent cost increases in the region, and they point to similar agreements reached at other Massachusetts gaming properties as benchmarks. The contracts cover a range of roles including dealers, servers, housekeepers and security personnel, and the combined membership totals more than a thousand individuals who keep daily operations running at the waterfront casino. Union representatives have stated that improved pension funding remains a priority because many long-term employees rely on those benefits after decades of service in the hospitality and transportation sectors.

Management at Encore Boston Harbor has not released detailed counterproposals at this stage, yet both sides continue to meet in an effort to reach terms before the current agreements lapse. Those familiar with past casino labor talks in New England recall that authorization votes frequently precede intensified bargaining rounds, and the timing here aligns with the end-of-month deadline that leaves little room for extended delays.

Financial Performance of the Property

Encore Boston Harbor reported total revenue approaching 847 million dollars for 2025, with casino operations contributing more than 629 million dollars of that figure, while adjusted EBITDA declined 4.2 percent year over year to 236.7 million dollars. These numbers reflect steady visitor traffic at the Everett location even as certain operating costs rose, and analysts track such metrics closely when labor agreements come up for renewal. teh revenue mix shows the casino floor as the dominant source, supplemented by hotel, dining and entertainment offerings that also employ many of the union-represented workers.

Revenue data released by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission places the property among the stronger performers in the state market, and that performance provides context for the wage and benefit discussions now underway. Observers note that while overall earnings remained substantial, the year-over-year dip in adjusted EBITDA highlights margin pressures that both management and labor must weigh during negotiations.

Timeline and Potential Next Steps

The strike authorization vote spans two days in mid-August, giving members time to participate either in person or through established union procedures. Should authorization pass, the earliest possible work stoppage would begin September 1 once the existing contracts end, though many such votes serve to strengthen the unions' position at the table without leading to actual walkouts. Both Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 have coordinated their efforts on this round of talks, presenting joint demands that cover wages and pensions across their respective bargaining units.

State labor laws in Massachusetts require certain notice periods before any strike can begin, and union leaders have indicated they will follow those requirements if the vote supports further action. The proximity of the vote to the contract expiration date means that progress or impasse in the coming weeks will determine whether operations continue uninterrupted after August 31.

Broader Context for Massachusetts Gaming Labor

Encore Boston Harbor operates as one of three casino resorts authorized under state gaming legislation, and labor agreements at these properties often influence one another because many workers move between facilities over time. The current talks occur against a backdrop of stable regional gaming revenue, yet individual properties still face their own cost structures and staffing needs. Union density at Encore Boston Harbor remains high, and that organized presence has shaped compensation patterns in the local hospitality industry for several years.

Those who follow casino labor developments across New England point out that pension funding has emerged as a recurring issue in recent contracts, particularly as workers approach retirement age and seek assurances that benefits will remain intact. The August vote therefore carries weight not only for the immediate parties but also for how future negotiations at other Massachusetts properties may unfold.

Conclusion

The strike authorization process at Encore Boston Harbor centers on concrete issues of wages and pension contributions for 1,350 union members, with the vote scheduled for August 19 and 20 and contracts set to expire August 31. Revenue figures from 2025 show the property generated nearly 847 million dollars overall while adjusted EBITDA fell 4.2 percent to 236.7 million dollars, and both sides continue to negotiate ahead of the potential September 1 deadline. Updates on the outcome of the vote and any subsequent bargaining developments will determine whether operations remain steady or face disruption in the weeks ahead, according to casino.org reporting and state gaming commission filings.