Workers across Spain staged the country’s first major nationwide general strike since 2012 on Wednesday, protesting against soaring housing costs, rising rents and declining purchasing power. The 24-hour industrial action disrupted transport, factories, ports, businesses and public services as thousands of people demanded stronger government measures to make housing affordable.
The strike was organised with the support of Spain’s two largest trade union organisations, the General Union of Workers (UGT) and the Workers’ Commissions (CCOO). Tenants’ associations and several other labour organisations also backed the action, connecting the housing crisis with demands for better salaries and improved working conditions.
The nationwide walkout began at midnight on Wednesday and was expected to continue for 24 hours. Demonstrations were organised in Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, bringing housing affordability back into the centre of national debate less than three weeks before the country’s November 29 general election.
Rising rents become a national concern
The main reason behind the strike is the growing difficulty ordinary workers face in finding affordable accommodation.
Spain has experienced a sharp increase in rental prices over the past decade. Average rents have almost doubled during that period, putting increasing pressure on people who depend on monthly salaries to pay for housing and other essential expenses.
The situation is particularly difficult for young people, low-income workers and families living in major cities. In Madrid, the average rent for a small apartment has reached a level that consumes a substantial share of an ordinary worker’s monthly income.
According to figures cited by housing researchers, renting a 50-square-metre apartment in Madrid cost around 1,170 euros per month in October. That represents nearly half of the country’s average gross monthly salary and almost the entire average income of a young person.
The unions argue that workers cannot maintain a reasonable standard of living when housing expenses absorb such a large portion of their earnings.
An eviction that intensified public anger
The campaign gained momentum following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, from her Madrid home in September.
Abascal had reportedly lived in the apartment for around 70 years before being forced to leave. Images of her eviction triggered widespread anger and renewed public attention to the difficulties faced by vulnerable tenants.
She was subsequently taken to hospital in fragile health and died several days later. Her death became a symbol of the housing crisis, although the circumstances of her death should not be confused with a proven medical link to the eviction.
Housing activists used the incident to demand stronger protections for tenants, particularly elderly people and families who face eviction without having access to alternative accommodation.
The protests expanded beyond housing organisations when major trade unions joined the campaign and supported the call for a nationwide general strike.
Factories, ports and transport face disruption
The strike affected several important sectors of the Spanish economy. Trade unions reported significant work stoppages in automobile manufacturing and port operations, with some industrial workplaces experiencing particularly high participation.
Factories associated with Volkswagen and SEAT were among the facilities affected by the action. Waste collection, energy-related operations, wholesale markets and other businesses also faced interruptions.
Public transport services experienced disruption in some cities, while picket lines and demonstrations affected access to workplaces and commercial areas.
The unions reported that participation was particularly strong in certain strategic sectors and coastal regions. However, the impact was not uniform throughout the country. Some professional organisations and sector-specific unions did not support the strike.
The difference in participation across industries means that the overall economic impact will depend on how many workers actually stopped working and how long disruptions continued.
Protests and clashes reported in major cities
Madrid and Barcelona witnessed demonstrations and picket operations as workers and housing activists gathered to demand government action.
At Mercamadrid, one of the country’s largest wholesale food distribution centres, protesters gathered near entrances and attempted to disrupt access during the early hours of the strike.
Police intervened during confrontations with picketers. Minor clashes and roadblocks were also reported in parts of Barcelona, where protesters disrupted traffic and access to some areas.
The incidents added to the challenges faced by businesses and commuters during the 24-hour walkout.
Despite the disruptions, the central message of the demonstrations remained focused on housing affordability, wages and the cost of living.
What the trade unions are demanding
UGT and CCOO have called for stronger public policies to improve access to affordable housing and protect workers from rising living costs.
Their demands include better rental protections, measures against speculative property investment, stronger safeguards against evictions and the development of more affordable public housing.
The unions also want higher wages and progress in collective bargaining negotiations. They argue that salary increases must reflect the rising cost of everyday necessities.
Housing activists have separately called for restrictions on tourist apartments in areas where rental accommodation has become increasingly expensive. They also want measures to prevent vulnerable tenants from losing their homes without suitable alternatives.
Business representatives have offered a different approach, arguing that Spain needs more housing construction and lower costs associated with building and purchasing homes.
Political pressure ahead of the November election
The strike comes at an important moment for Spanish politics. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap general election for November 29 after his minority government struggled to secure parliamentary support for proposed housing measures.
The rejection of housing-related proposals in parliament contributed to frustration among tenants’ groups and activists, who had been demanding stronger intervention.
Sánchez has described housing access as a serious national problem and has argued that different levels of government need to work together to address it.
Opposition parties and business groups have criticised the timing and approach of the strike. Some have described it as politically motivated, while union leaders insist that the action is about workers’ living conditions and housing rights.
The debate is likely to remain an important issue during the election campaign, with political parties facing questions about how they would address rising rents and the shortage of affordable homes.
Spain faces a difficult housing challenge
The general strike has demonstrated that housing affordability has become more than a concern for tenants’ organisations. It is now closely connected to employment, wages and the wider economic situation of ordinary households.
Spain’s housing shortage, increasing rental costs and limited access to affordable accommodation present a difficult challenge for policymakers.
The government will face pressure to increase housing supply, improve tenant protections and ensure that workers can afford homes near their places of employment.
For the trade unions, the November 11 strike is an attempt to make housing and living costs central issues in the national political debate.
Although a single day of industrial action cannot solve the housing shortage, the nationwide protest has sent a clear message that workers want practical measures rather than promises.
With the general election approaching, the response of political leaders could become an important factor in determining how Spain addresses its housing crisis in the coming years.
