Millions of Spain’s workers are striking Wednesday to demand that the government remedy the nation’s housing crisis less than three weeks before a national election that could catapult the far right to power. Spain’s first general strike in 14 years is expected to cause delays to the widely used public transport system and lead to the slowdown or shuttering of businesses, factories and shops across the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy. A passenger leaves after not being allowed to enter the Sants station during a 24-hour nationwide general strike in Spain on November 11, 2026. © Bruna Casas, Minor incidents were reported in the first hours, including roadblocks– some of them with burning tires– in Barcelona, the second-largest city in the country, and scuffles between picketers and police near the country’s main wholesale market on the outskirts of the capital, Madrid.
Striking workers set off fireworks on the stroke of midnight as they gathered in public squares in Barcelona. The two main unions calling for the strike, UGT and CCOO, reported widespread participation in the early hours “with significant work stoppages in strategic sectors”– 90 percent in the automotive and port sectors, 85 percent in the meat industry, 82 percent in waste collection and 75 percent in the energy sector– according to a statement posted on social media. To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.
Between workers, activists, politicians and ordinary Spaniards, the groups have very different interests in Wednesday's walkout. The average rent in Spain has almost doubled in the last 10 years, eating into household budgets and angering voters. Public anger over housing reached a boiling point following the nationally televised eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home in Madrid last month.
The subsequent death of Maricarmen, as the woman became known, caused even more indignation and solidified her as a symbol of Spaniards who feel they pay too much on rent and can’t even dream of homeownership. Read moreTens of thousands march in Madrid to mourn pensioner whose eviction sparked housing protests Housing activists leveraged the uproar over Maricarmen's eviction to call for the general strike. They soon won the backing of Spain's two main unions, UGT and CCOO.
The housing activists want several measures, including the elimination of tourist apartments, a crackdown on real estate speculation and protection for renters in the form of automatic renewals of leases. The UGT and CCOO unions are demanding more government intervention in the housing market and a new minimum wage agreement through talks with the business owners' association. The strike’s official slogan is “Salaries.
Prices.” The nationwide protests over the eviction of Maricarmen propelled Spain’s government to push through emergency measures to limit evictions and help tenants, but right-wing parties in the Parliament refused to ratify them on the grounds they would provoke a flight of properties from the rental market. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez responded by doubling down politically and called the election on October 5, hoping to earn four more years in power for his left-wing coalition. Read moreSpain's right holds poll lead over Sanchez's Socialists ahead of November 29 snap election But then came a brutal high-speed train collision– Spain's second deadly rail disaster of the year.
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