MADRID, Spain — Millions of Spanish workers participated in a 24-hour national general strike on November 11, the country’s first in 14 years, as protests over soaring housing costs and living expenses paralyzed public transport, disrupted flights, and shuttered businesses. The strike, called by Spain’s two largest trade unions Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) and Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), coincides with a snap general election scheduled for November 28, raising political stakes amid widespread anger over economic pressures.
The walkout followed months of escalating demonstrations, including the nationally televised eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home of 70 years, which intensified public outrage over housing affordability. Rents in Spain have nearly doubled over the past decade, according to labor groups, while the Bank of Spain estimates a shortage of 750,000 homes, potentially rising to 1 million within two years.
Disruptions reported across sectors
The strike led to significant work stoppages in key industries, with unions reporting 90% participation in automotive and port sectors, 85% in meat processing, 82% in waste collection, and 75% in energy. Public transport faced widespread delays, with Madrid’s city buses hardest hit by heavy rains and Barcelona’s metro and buses at a standstill during morning rush hour. Schools and universities in multiple regions either closed or operated at minimal capacity. Rail workers had staged nationwide stoppages the previous week following the October 28 Urda train disaster, which killed 69 people.
Minor incidents were reported early in the strike, including roadblocks with burning tires in Barcelona and scuffles between picketers and police near Madrid’s wholesale market. Unions called for marches in major cities, with Madrid and Barcelona expected to see large demonstrations later in the day.
Unions and activists demand housing reforms
The UGT and CCOO framed the strike as a response to falling living standards, rising prices, and inadequate government action on housing. Their demands include greater state intervention in the housing market, a new minimum wage agreement, and protections for renters, such as automatic lease renewals. Housing activists, who initially organized protests after Abascal’s eviction, pushed for additional measures including bans on tourist apartments and crackdowns on real estate speculation.
Political backdrop: Election looms amid far-right surge
The strike unfolded less than three weeks before a snap election called by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez after his left-wing coalition failed to pass emergency housing legislation. Polls suggest the far-right Vox party could gain significant ground, with housing affordability and economic concerns dominating voter priorities. Left-wing parties have sought to highlight the housing crisis as a central issue in the campaign, while unions framed the strike as a direct challenge to political inaction.
Broader labor unrest across Europe
The Spanish strike is part of a wider wave of labor actions across Europe, with 1.6 million protesters in France last week, 120,000 youth protests in Germany, and strikes planned in Italy (November 20) and Greece (November 25). In Spain, additional labor actions are ongoing, including indefinite strikes by 35,000 metalworkers in Murcia, 100,000 public school teachers in Madrid and Castilla y León, and 126,000 meat-processing workers striking throughout the week.
Union leaders emphasize economic leverage
Sandra Mora, spokesperson for the Tenants’ Union, stated in a national radio interview: “It’s extremely important to remind people that we, the workers — who are also renters or who also pay mortgages — are the ones with the power to halt production and bring the economy to a standstill.”
The strike’s official slogan, “Salaries. Housing. Prices.”, encapsulates the interconnected grievances driving the walkout, as workers face stagnant wages, unaffordable rents, and rising costs of living.
Government response pending
As of the strike’s conclusion, the Spanish government had not issued an official response to the demands. The Ministry of Labor and Social Economy has not responded to requests for comment on the strike’s impact or potential policy concessions.
The walkout underscores the deepening social and economic tensions in Spain ahead of a pivotal election, with labor groups and activists positioning the strike as both a protest and a warning of continued unrest if housing and economic policies remain unchanged.