The Encore strike at Wynn Resorts’ Boston Harbor casino reached its 48th day on October 21, 2026, as the property faced weaker gaming revenue and an unresolved labor contract. September gaming revenue fell 22% from a year earlier to $46.1 million, coinciding with the walkout.
Key Takeaways
- September gaming revenue fell to $46.1 million, down 22% year over year.
- The unions say about 1,350 workers are striking for higher pay, benefit protections and job security.
- Wynn CEO Craig Billings has cited a nearly 37% increase in labor costs over four years.
Table of Contents
- Encore strike centers on pay and benefit protections
- Gaming decline adds to Wynn’s labor-cost pressure
- Conclusion
Encore strike centers on pay and benefit protections
UNITE HERE Local 26’s strike announcement identifies about 1,350 participating workers represented by Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25. The unions are seeking pay that keeps pace with Boston’s downtown hotels, preservation of existing healthcare and benefits, and job security.
The walkout includes housekeepers, cooks, servers, bartenders, slot attendants, warehouse workers and drivers at the Everett, Massachusetts, resort. Their demands concern both compensation levels and protections under a replacement contract.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Strike authorization | August 20, 2026; more than 95% voted in favor, according to the unions. |
| Previous contract expired | August 31, 2026. |
| Walkout began | September 4, 2026, at 7 a.m. |
Gaming decline adds to Wynn’s labor-cost pressure
The September decline covers gaming revenue, not the resort’s total revenue from hotel rooms, restaurants and other services. Although the weaker result coincided with the strike, the available figures do not establish how much of the decline was caused by the labor dispute.
Billings has said labor costs rose nearly 37% over the past four years while revenue growth remained minimal. That puts the wage negotiations alongside a broader operating challenge: higher staffing costs without comparable revenue growth.
The property-level gaming result does not establish the financial effect on Wynn Resorts as a whole. The company also operates resorts in Las Vegas and Macau, and no quantified group-wide earnings impact from the strike was provided.
Conclusion
The unresolved contract remains the immediate operational issue for Encore Boston Harbor. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is expected to address the strike’s impact, although no date for that review was specified.
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