Starbucks Workers in Chile Achieve National Contract

After 13 years of struggle, Starbucks workers in Chile have a national union contract covering 176 stores.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Starbucks workers in Chile have achieved a national union contract after a 13-year organizing effort, becoming the first Starbucks workers in the world to do so. The contract covers 176 Starbucks stores and 1,800 workers, with two-thirds of them being union members. The contract provides significant gains for workers, including higher wages, better benefits, and the ability for customers to tip electronically.

Why it matters

This achievement by Starbucks workers in Chile stands in stark contrast to the ongoing struggles of Starbucks workers in the U.S. to even get the company to the bargaining table, let alone secure a national contract. The Chilean example demonstrates that persistent, grassroots organizing can overcome even the most aggressive anti-union tactics by a multinational corporation like Starbucks.

The details

The Chilean Starbucks union, formed in 2009, had to endure years of illegal union-busting tactics by Starbucks management before finally securing a contract in 2022. This included Starbucks breaking "every single labor law" in Chile, according to past union president Andres Giordano, and the company even enlisting a pro-employer union in Mexico to spy on the Chilean union's strategy. It took until 2015 for the union to win even a "little contract" and until 2022 to achieve a comprehensive national agreement.

  • The Starbucks union in Chile was formed in 2009.
  • Between 2009 and 2012, Starbucks broke every labor law in Chile in its attempts to stop the union.
  • In 2011, a minority of workers went on strike for 30 days.
  • In 2015, the union finally won a limited "contratito" or little contract.
  • In February 2022, the union signed a comprehensive national contract with Starbucks.

The players

Andres Giordano

A past president of the Chilean Starbucks union who worked at the company for 15 years.

Romanett Belmar

The current 26-year-old president of the Chilean Starbucks union, who has worked at the company for 9 years.

ALSEA

A Mexican holding company that took over management of Starbucks stores in much of Latin America in 2021, with more experience dealing with unions.

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What they’re saying

“This is not something that could be done in one or two years.”

— Andres Giordano, Past president of the Chilean Starbucks union (labornotes.org)

“We won our suits but not a contract. Starbucks preferred to pay the fines.”

— Andres Giordano, Past president of the Chilean Starbucks union (labornotes.org)

“The contract's weakest point is that it allows Starbucks to hire all workers part-time.”

— Romanett Belmar, Current president of the Chilean Starbucks union (labornotes.org)

What’s next

The Chilean Starbucks union plans to continue pushing for improvements to the contract, including securing more full-time positions for workers.

The takeaway

The successful unionization of Starbucks workers in Chile, culminating in a national contract, demonstrates that persistent, grassroots organizing can overcome even the most aggressive anti-union tactics by a powerful multinational corporation. This achievement stands in stark contrast to the ongoing struggles of Starbucks workers in the U.S. to secure their first union contracts.