Encore Boston Harbor Faces Union Strike Authorization Vote as Contracts Near Expiration

Workers at Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett, Massachusetts, represented by 1,350 members from Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25, will cast ballots on August 19 and 20 to decide whether to authorize a strike beginning September 1 if new contracts fail to materialize before the current agreements expire on August 31. The vote comes as both unions push for wages above the existing $25 per hour minimum along with strengthened pension provisions, citing the property's revenue figures from 2025 that reached nearly $847 million in total revenue and $236.7 million in adjusted EBITDA even after a 4.2 percent decline from the prior year.

Contract Timeline and Union Positions

The existing labor agreements cover a significant portion of the casino workforce and reach their end date at the close of August, which places the authorization vote just days before the deadline and sets a potential work stoppage for the first day of September if negotiations stall. Union representatives have tied their wage and pension requests directly to the casino's financial results, noting that Encore Boston Harbor continues to generate substantial earnings despite the modest year-over-year dip in adjusted EBITDA. Observers note that the 1,350 members involved represent a coordinated effort between the two locals, with Unite Here Local 26 focusing on hospitality roles and Teamsters Local 25 covering transportation and related positions, creating a unified front ahead of the August balloting.

Financial Performance Details

Revenue data for 2025 shows Encore Boston Harbor posted nearly $847 million in total revenue while delivering $236.7 million in adjusted EBITDA, a figure that declined 4.2 percent compared with 2024 yet still reflects robust operational performance according to industry tracking. The unions have referenced these numbers during bargaining sessions to support demands for compensation increases and pension improvements, arguing that the property's earnings provide room for enhanced worker benefits without compromising viability. Data from the same reporting period indicates the casino maintained strong cash flow even as broader market conditions produced the slight EBITDA reduction, a point the unions highlight when explaining why they seek contract terms that exceed the current $25 hourly minimum wage floor.

Strike Authorization Process

Ballots scheduled for August 19 and 20 will determine whether the unions receive formal authority to call a work stoppage starting September 1, a procedural step that follows standard labor practices when contracts near expiration without renewed terms in place. If members approve the measure, the locals gain the option to initiate the action on the stated date while talks continue, whereas rejection would remove that immediate leverage. The process unfolds at the Everett property owned by Wynn Resorts, where the combined membership of 1,350 has remained engaged in discussions focused on wage adjustments above the existing minimum and pension enhancements that address long-term retirement security for the workforce.

Background on the Property and Workforce

Encore Boston Harbor operates as a major gaming and hospitality destination in Everett, Massachusetts, employing the union-represented staff across multiple departments that range from guest services to logistics and support functions. The current contracts, which conclude on August 31, established the $25 hourly minimum that now serves as the baseline for the new demands, and the upcoming vote occurs against a backdrop of steady revenue generation that reached nearly $847 million in 2025. Those who've followed regional labor developments note that coordination between Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 allows for synchronized messaging on pension improvements alongside wage increases, reflecting patterns seen in other hospitality negotiations where financial performance data influences bargaining priorities.

Potential Outcomes and Next Steps

Should the August 19-20 vote pass, the unions would hold strike authorization while continuing talks through the final days of August, with a September 1 start date available if no agreement emerges. Management at the Wynn Resorts property would then face decisions on operations during any stoppage, while the 1,350 members weigh the impact of withholding labor against the possibility of reaching terms that raise wages beyond $25 per hour and bolster pension contributions. Figures released for 2025 continue to anchor union arguments, as the $236.7 million in adjusted EBITDA, despite the 4.2 percent drop, demonstrates the casino's capacity to accommodate enhanced benefits according to the locals' position.

Conclusion

The sequence of events beginning with the August 19-20 strike authorization vote and potentially extending to a September 1 work stoppage centers on unresolved contract terms between the two unions and Encore Boston Harbor. Revenue performance from 2025 supplies the factual basis for wage and pension requests, while the combined membership of 1,350 prepares to decide on next steps before the August 31 contract deadline. All details remain tied to the specific developments at the Everett casino, with outcomes dependent on the ballot results and any subsequent bargaining progress.