Everett City Council Picks a Side in Ongoing Encore Boston Harbor Labor Dispute

The City of Everett has picked a side in the ongoing labor dispute at Encore Boston Harbor.

Wynn Resorts’ $2.4 billion casino resort is located in Everett, across the Mystic River from downtown Boston. Union workers began striking on Sept. 4, and 10 days later, the Everett City Council is ready to weigh in on the contract negotiations.

This evening (Sept. 14) during its regularly scheduled meeting, the Everett City Council is expected to adopt Resolution C 0197-26. Proposed by Councilor Peter Pietrantonio, whose 6th Ward encompasses the Wynn casino, the resolution would express the council’s support for Teamsters Local 25 and Unite Here Local 26 to receive new contracts.

Before the local government votes on the resolution, members of Locals 25 and 26 will tell the council why they believe they deserve better wages and health care benefits. The meeting is scheduled for 7 pm inside Everett City Hall.

Roughly 1,350 union employees at Encore Boston Harbor, working as housekeepers, cooks, servers, bartenders, slot attendants, warehouse workers, and drivers, continue to walk the picket line. Wynn Resorts says it’s business as usual inside Encore Boston Harbor.

City Support

The Everett City Council, along with then-Mayor Carlo DeMaria and strong public support, campaigned to bring Wynn Resorts to Everett.

In exchange for housing the integrated resort, Wynn spent $68 million to clean the contaminated waterfront site that had been used previously for chemical manufacturing. Wynn also promised thousands of good-paying jobs and a minimum $25 million a year host community payment.

Despite being closely aligned with the casino, Everett councilors are expected to back the unions.

The Encore Boston Harbor unions are seeking $10 per hour increases over four years, or $2.50 a year, something labor leaders say ensures that “pay does not fall behind the downtown hotels.” They’re also seeking health care and pension guarantees, and a “reasonable expectation of job security,” Pietrantonio said.

Everett Casino Workers

During Encore Boston Harbor’s innholder’s license renewal in June, Wynn officials told the Everett City Council that 567 Everett residents worked at the casino resort. That represents about 17% of the casino’s workforce.

City councilors expressed disappointment with Encore Boston Harbor on their belief that the casino has failed to integrate with the Everett community.

“As a council we have no connection with you,” Councilor Wayne Matewsky told Eileen McAnneny, Encore Boston Harbor’s executive director of government relations. “It’s like you’re a separate city. The people of Everett thought we’d get a bigger bang out of this. I thought we’d get more.”

McAnneny said the property gives preference to Everett residents, but they must meet the service standards of a five-star resort.

“I’m not, but Everett residents have to meet the standards of a five-star resort,” McAnneny said.