Wynn Resorts and union workers at Encore Boston Harbor are heading toward a collision course. With negotiations deadlocked and a strike vote already in the bag, over 1,000 employees are preparing to walk off the job this Friday unless management shifts position on pay and benefits.

What the Workers Want

The staff members, represented by Unite Here Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25, aren't asking for anything outlandish. They want hourly wage increases totalling $10 over four years, a $25 base starting rate, and guarantees on healthcare and pension benefits. Their contracts expired on August 31, and with no deal in sight, they've voted to strike.

Over 1,350 workers keep this place ticking: slot attendants, bartenders, cooks, servers, housekeepers, warehouse staff. The full spectrum of casino operations, basically. These are the people doing the actual work.

Wynn's Position on Financial Reality

Wynn's response, delivered to Casino.org, strikes a familiar corporate note. The company says it remains committed to a fair deal, but any agreement must be "grounded in financial reality." Fair enough on its face.

The detail is where things get interesting. Wynn highlighted that over four years, wages and benefits for these union members grew 36.8%, compared to just 1.9% revenue growth and 8.5% inflation in the Boston area. The company argues that proposals ignoring these metrics could trigger job cuts down the line. Plus, Encore Boston Harbor has paid over $1.3 billion in wages and benefits since opening in June 2019. That number bears mentioning.

The Standoff

Union stewards aren't backing down. Rosa Mendoza, a call center worker and Teamsters Local 25 steward, made clear that workers are prepared to walk and asked Boston families to respect the picket line. Teamsters Local 25 president Thomas Mari went further, essentially telling the wider Boston workforce to support the strike if it happens.

The math here is straightforward for management. A strike disrupts operations, damages customer experience, and creates negative headlines. But agreeing to terms Wynn views as unsustainable also carries real costs. Whether Wynn finds middle ground before Friday remains the open question.