Commercial Gaming

Encore Boston Harbor Accuses Unions of Ignoring Proposal; Teamsters, UNITE HERE Push Back

Posted on: October 23, 2026, 10:43h.

Last updated on: October 26, 2026, 07:18h.

Written by

Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

Encore Boston Harbor’s September revenue plunged 22% year over year to $46 million as a strike involving 1,300 union workers nears Day 50
Wynn Resorts says it is awaiting a response to its September contract offer, while unions argue the proposal falls short
The unions seek a $25 minimum starting wage and $10 per hour raises over four years

Encore Boston Harbor and its two workers’ unions—Teamsters Local 25 and UNITE HERE Local 26—agree on one point: they want to end the strike approaching Day 50 as quickly as possible. However, the two sides remain at odds over who is responsible for the contract stalemate.

Encore Boston Harbor unions UNITE HERE Teamsters — UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 members walk the picket line outside Encore Boston Harbor. Wynn Resorts claims it’s had a fair contract offer on the table for a month, but the two unions have not responded to the offer. (Image: UNITE HERE Local 26/X)

Tensions continue to escalate after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) revealed this week that September casino revenue at Encore declined 22% year-over-year to $46 million.

With 1,300 UNITE HERE and Teamsters employees remaining off the job, business inside the Wynn Resorts property has suffered as consumers refuse to cross picket lines or stay away due to disrupted operations.

The latest revenue numbers are a reminder that a profitable casino doesn’t run on its own. It runs on the hard work, dedication, and professionalism of the workers who make Encore Boston Harbor successful every day,” Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari said in a release to Casino.org.

Calling union workers the “backbone” of Wynn’s five-star guest experience, Mari says the labor organizations continue to fight for what they deserve: a fair contract that reflects their hard work.

Wynn Says Unions Nonresponsive

A spokesperson with Wynn Resorts told Casino.org that the company offered a “significant economic proposal” over a month ago and is still awaiting a response from the unions.

We put a significant economic proposal on the table in September. Since that time, we have been waiting for the unions’ response to move bargaining forward,” the Wynn spokesperson said.

“September’s results demonstrate why a sustainable agreement matters—not only for our employees and the thousands of jobs Encore supports, but for Massachusetts. When Encore’s revenue declines, so does the tax revenue it generates for the Commonwealth.”

The representative added that Wynn remains committed to reaching a settlement and never wants to see team members on a picket line.

The unions said Wynn’s September offer fell far short of the “Boston standard” they deserve.

“The message to Encore’s management is loud and clear: you cannot expect to be one of the region’s few five-star resorts without treating the workers who make it possible with the respect they deserve,” said Mari.

Defining ‘Decent Wages’

UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 members at Encore Boston Harbor work across various departments, including housekeeping, food and beverage, slot operations, and warehouse logistics.

Wynn claims the average unionized employee at Encore Boston Harbor earns nearly $96,000 annually in combined pay and benefits.

Unions dispute that metric, arguing that top earners skew the average, that the $96,000 figure includes health and pension benefits rather than take-home pay, and that it factors in customer tips that do not come out of Wynn’s bottom line.

Union representatives say most floor workers earn between $15 and $32 per hour, translating to base annual salaries between $31,200 and $66,560. Labor organizers are asking Encore Boston Harbor to raise starting wages to $25 per hour and grant a $10-per-hour pay increase across all classifications over a four-year agreement.