More than 1,300 unionized workers at Encore Boston Harbor could walk off the job on Friday, Sept. 4, as contract negotiations with Wynn Resorts remain unresolved.

Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 authorized a strike in August. Their previous agreement with Wynn Resorts expired on Aug. 31, leaving the workers without a new contract. Union officials said employees will begin picketing outside the casino at 7 a.m. Friday if the sides fail to reach an agreement.

The dispute involves workers across several areas of the resort. Unite Here members include housekeepers, cooks, servers, bartenders and slot attendants, while Teamsters Local 25 represents 211 employees working in roles that include warehouse operations, horticulture, the call center, cage cashier services, dispatch, traffic operations, valet services and guest experience.

The unions are seeking improved compensation and benefits, along with stronger workplace protections. Workers held a practice picket ahead of the proposed strike, signaling that preparations for a work stoppage are already underway.

Contract Talks Reach Critical Stage

The two unions voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike authorization on Aug. 20. That vote gave union leadership the authority to call a strike while negotiations continued.

Wynn Resorts has disputed the unions’ characterization of the negotiations. According to Boston Business Journal, a company spokesperson previously said the union had not presented “a serious proposal, one that is grounded in financial reality.”

The casino operator has also pointed to changes in compensation over the existing contract period. According to Wynn Resorts, wages and benefits for its unionized hotel employees have risen by more than 30% during the past four years, while casino revenue increased by less than 2%.

Encore Boston Harbor employs approximately 3,350 people, with Wynn reporting that 41% of its workforce belongs to a union.

The proposed strike would therefore affect a significant section of the resort’s employees. Teamsters Local 25 has emphasized the importance of the 211 workers it represents to the property’s day-to-day operation, describing them as essential to the functioning of the five-star resort.

The labor dispute comes after several months of tension surrounding employment at the property. In March, employees at Seamark Seafood and Cocktails, a restaurant inside Encore Boston Harbor, were laid off after taking steps to join a union. Carver Road Hospitality, a Las Vegas-based company that operated the restaurant separately from Wynn Resorts, subsequently closed the venue later that month.

Workers Prepare for Friday Picket

If negotiations do not produce an agreement, union officials have set 7 a.m. Friday as the starting time for picketing outside Encore Boston Harbor.

The workers’ demands center on a new agreement that provides better wages, stronger benefits and additional protections at work. The planned action follows the Aug. 20 strike vote and the expiration of the previous contract at the end of August.

Teamsters Local 25 and Unite Here Local 26 have said the company failed to bargain in good faith toward a new agreement. Wynn Resorts has presented a different assessment of the negotiations, citing the financial implications of the union proposals.

The outcome of the talks will determine whether the planned picket becomes a strike. Until an agreement is reached, the two sides remain separated over the terms of a replacement contract.

The dispute also highlights the different groups of employees involved in operating a large casino resort. The workers represented by the unions perform functions ranging from guest-facing services to internal logistics and operational support. A stoppage could therefore involve employees from several parts of the property.