Spain has begun a 24-hour general strike over housing costs, wages and prices, bringing a long-running debate about the affordability of homes into the final weeks before a national election.
The walkout on Wednesday 11 November was called by the country’s two largest trade union federations, Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT). It is the first general strike jointly backed by the two unions since 2012.
Workers across sectors, including transport and hospitality, were called to take part. UGT said its information pickets had begun visiting workplaces in different parts of the country. The scale of participation and the extent of disruption were not yet clear as the day began.
Housing and pay at the centre
The unions have brought several demands together under a shared call for action on wages, housing and prices. They want stronger action by public authorities on housing and a new minimum-wage agreement reached through talks with employers.
Their wider platform also calls for higher pay, shorter working hours and measures to address insecure employment. The unions have argued that wages must go further if workers are to meet the cost of a home and other essentials.
Housing campaigners have their own proposals. These include ending the use of homes as tourist apartments, curbing property speculation and giving tenants greater security through automatic lease renewals. The campaigners’ demands should not be confused with an agreed government programme.
The pressure is reflected in estimates of the housing shortfall. The Bank of Spain has estimated that the country has around 750,000 fewer homes than it needs and that the gap could exceed one million by 2028. Those are estimates of supply needs, not a count of people taking part in the strike.
A widely publicised eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid helped galvanise earlier housing demonstrations. The woman later died. Her case became a focal point for campaigners seeking stronger protections for renters.
A political dispute before the election
The strike comes before Spain’s snap general election on 29 November. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the election after protests over housing and the rejection in parliament of government measures intended to limit evictions and ease rental pressure.
Opponents argued that the measures could discourage owners from putting properties on the rental market. The government intends to seek ratification of the two housing decrees by an interim parliamentary body on Thursday, 12 November. That is a planned political step, not an approved change.
The conservative Popular Party and the far-right Vox party have criticised the strike as politically motivated. Sánchez has praised the gains achieved through collective action, although he has not explicitly endorsed the walkout. Housing groups and unions supporting the mobilisation do not all take the same view of the government’s record.
Services and travel
The action was scheduled to run from midnight to midnight, with different start and finish arrangements possible for some shift workers. Minimum-service rules are intended to keep some public transport running, but the level of provision varies by area and operator.
Schools and healthcare services may also operate with reduced staffing, while some shops and restaurants could close. Passengers have been advised to check their plans with their train company or airline. Expected disruption is not the same as a confirmed account of cancellations or closures.
Wednesday’s general strike is separate from a train drivers’ stoppage on Tuesday 10 November. That action concerned rail safety and maintenance after fatal crashes. Following talks with the drivers’ union, the government approved safety measures and the union postponed a further stoppage that had been planned for 12 November.
