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Encore Boston Harbor workers remain on strike after walking out September 4, 2026, according to the current UNITE HERE Local 26 strike notice. The Everett, Massachusetts, resort has not announced a shutdown: Wynn Resorts told local reporters that it remained open and operational while negotiations continued.
That distinction matters for anyone with a hotel stay, dinner reservation, or casino visit coming up. A strike is not the same as a canceled booking, but an open property is not a promise that every service will match a guest’s expectations; confirm the arrangements that matter to your visit before traveling.
- Property: Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts.
- Walkout: Began at 7 a.m. September 4 after the August 31 contract expiration.
- Workers: More than 1,300 employees represented by two unions.
- Guest decision: Verify specific services and booking terms rather than assuming the resort is closed.
- September 16 update: A supplied press release reports unanimous Boston City Council support for the striking workers; the official agenda confirms the resolution was scheduled.
September 16 Update: Boston Council Support
A September 16 press release supplied to Deep Arrival by Sean Martin of Regan Communications reports that Boston City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting striking Encore Boston Harbor workers represented by Teamsters Local 25 and UNITE HERE Local 26. The release says councilors pledged to avoid dining, meetings, and stays at the resort during the strike and called for renewed contract negotiations.
The city’s September 16 meeting agenda independently lists the Encore resolution as docket 1721, sponsored by Councilor Henry Santana. At the time of this update, the online legislative record did not yet display a final vote; the unanimous-passage report is attributed to the supplied release. This is an expression of support for the workers, not an announcement that the resort is closed or that guest reservations have been canceled.
The Casino Has Not Announced a Shutdown
WBZ NewsRadio’s September 4 reporting carried Encore’s position that it was continuing to operate and serve guests during negotiations. The same report described workers walking off the job, including employees in housekeeping, food and beverage service, slot operations, and transportation roles.
Those facts support a careful booking check, not a claim that a particular restaurant, room category, or gaming area has closed. Neither the reporting nor the union notice supplies a current department-by-department service schedule, so ask the resort directly about your reservation, arrival time, and any service your plans depend on.
Why Workers Walked Out
The dispute follows the expiration of the workers’ contract at the end of August. In its September 4 announcement, the Teamsters said negotiations had failed to produce an acceptable agreement and described the walkout as a response to unresolved pay, benefits, and workplace protections.
GBH reported that the unions sought wage increases over three years and continued health benefits and job protections. Encore disputed the union’s assertion that it wanted to eliminate a minimum-hours guarantee, an important disagreement that should not be presented as a settled fact about the company’s plans.
Wynn told GBH that it remained committed to reaching an agreement it considered fair and financially sustainable. The union’s current public notice continues to ask customers to avoid the property during the strike; that is a request for solidarity, separate from the company’s statement about whether the resort is operating.
Check the Booking, Not Just the Headline
For a hotel reservation, ask whether your room and any included services remain available as booked. If a package includes dining, transport, or another scheduled component, confirm each part rather than treating the room confirmation as proof that the entire package will run exactly as expected.
For dinner or a casino outing, contact the specific venue before setting off. Someone traveling only for a meal has a different decision from an overnight guest with a prepaid stay, and both should check their own reservation terms before making changes that could carry a charge.
The available notices do not establish a general strike-related refund waiver. Keep any written response about changes to your booking, but do not assume that the existence of a picket line automatically cancels a reservation or overrides the terms under which you booked it.
| Your Plan | What to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Overnight hotel stay | Room availability, included services, and the booking’s change deadline. |
| Restaurant reservation | The venue’s operating hours and whether your specific reservation is being honored. |
| Event or group booking | The organizer’s arrangements and which party can approve changes. |
| Visit contingent on avoiding picket lines | The union’s current strike status before making a new commitment. |
No Confirmed End Date
Local 26’s notice says workers intend to remain out until an agreement is reached, rather than listing a fixed final strike day. Travelers should therefore look for an explicit settlement or return-to-work announcement instead of assuming that the walkout ended when the Labor Day holiday did.
Before arrival: Ask Encore about the specific services you booked. The company has said it is open, but the published accounts do not verify every individual guest arrangement.
Before changing plans: Review the reservation’s terms and obtain a clear answer about any proposed fee or waiver. A union boycott request is not a hotel cancellation policy.
Before a later visit: Recheck both the property and union notices. The next meaningful change would be an agreement, an announced end to the walkout, or a confirmed operational change.
Is Encore Boston Harbor closed because of the strike?
No shutdown has been announced in the cited reporting. Encore told reporters it remained open and operational during negotiations.
When did the strike begin?
The walkout began at 7 a.m. September 4, 2026, after the prior contract expired August 31.
Does the strike guarantee a hotel refund?
The notices do not announce a general refund waiver. Check your booking terms and contact the resort or booking provider about your particular reservation.
When will the workers return?
No fixed return date is given in the union’s current notice. It says the strike continues until an agreement is reached.
