Encore Boston Harbor casino workers walk off job after contract expires
Senior Digital Editor/Producer, WCVB.com
EVERETT, Mass. —
Hundreds of Encore Boston Harbor casino workers in Everett, Massachusetts, walked off the job Friday after their contract expired last week.
UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25, which represents about 1,350 housekeepers, cooks, servers, bartenders, slot attendants, warehouse workers, and drivers, have not reached a new contract with Wynn Resorts.
The unions are asking for job security, healthcare funding, pension benefits and higher wages that are competitive with those employed at Boston hotels.
“We’re prepared for a work stoppage if a deal is not reached,” said Rosa Mendoza, a call center worker and shop steward at Teamsters Local 25. “Now is the time for management to give us a fair contract that reflects our hard work. If we go out on strike, we ask Boston families to stand with us and honor the picket line.”
“The unions have chosen to initiate a strike despite our continued efforts to reach an agreement through negotiations. We are committed to finding common ground that is fair, financially sustainable and protects jobs for the long term,” a Wynn spokesperson said.
Wynn Resorts said the casino will remain open and operational while negotiations continue.