Local News
The strike, which began Sept. 4, included more than 1,300 housekeepers, cooks, servers, bartenders, slot attendants, and warehouse and receiving workers.
More than 1,300 employees at Encore Boston Harbor voted to ratify a new contract on Thursday, ending a strike that began on Sept. 4.
Teamsters Local 25 and UNITE HERE Local 26 represented the employees, which included housekeepers, cooks, servers, bartenders, slot attendants, and warehouse and receiving workers.
The previous collective bargaining agreement with Wynn Resorts expired on Aug. 31, and 97 percent of union employees voted to authorize the strike. Now, after 63 days, the strike has ended.
“We proudly stood together as union brothers and sisters and fought for the contract – and respect – we deserved all along,” said James Atkins, lead horticulturist at the casino, in a press release from the unions. “Now we’re proud to be heading back to work, bringing that same solidarity, pride and commitment to our fellow workers, our guests and the job every day.”
Encore Boston Harbor did not respond to a request for comment Sunday evening.
In a statement to Boston.com. the union described the contract as being “5 and half years, with wage increases, enhanced benefits and improved worker protections.”
“The agreement recognizes the important contributions of union employees and reflects a shared commitment to the people who make the resort such a special place,” the unions said.
The union employees asked the public to avoid the Everett casino during the strike. Throughout the month of September, Encore’s revenue dropped 22 percent year-over-year, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
The union lauded the decline in revenue as a win, writing in a social media post that the “house doesn’t win without their 5-Star workers.”
The workers held an around-the-clock picket line for two months. Several local elected officials visited the strike, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Gov. Maura Healey.
Mayor Robert Van Campen of Everett wrote that both Encore and the employees are an “important part of Everett,” and he looks forward to “putting this difficult chapter behind us.”
During the strike, the casino shut down its free water shuttle service, closed valet parking, and closed several restaurants, The Boston Globe reported. The employees returned to work Friday morning.
“This strike showed what happens when working people stand together and refuse to back down,” said Tom Mari, president of Teamsters Local 25, in the release. “Encore Boston Harbor is a world-class operation because of the people who make it run every day, and this agreement recognizes the value of these workers.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
