Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Barcelona, Madrid and other Spanish cities as workers across the country staged a 24-hour general strike over rising housing costs, declining purchasing power and demands for better living conditions.
The nationwide industrial action took place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, less than three weeks before Spain’s snap general election scheduled for November 29. It was the first general strike jointly supported by the country’s two largest trade unions, the Workers’ Commissions (CCOO) and the General Workers’ Union (UGT), since 2012.
The protests were driven by growing frustration over soaring rents, expensive property prices and the increasing difficulty ordinary workers face in securing affordable accommodation.
In Barcelona, demonstrators gathered in large numbers, while several businesses closed their doors in anticipation of possible unrest. Public transportation was disrupted, with metro and bus services affected. In Madrid, protesters marched through central areas, including the popular Gran Vía shopping district, where some stores closed as demonstrations intensified.
Organisers estimated that approximately four million people had participated in the nationwide strike by midday. However, participation varied across industries and regions. Trade unions reported particularly strong involvement in the automotive, port, meat-processing and energy sectors.
The unions reported participation levels of around 90 per cent in the automotive and port industries, while waste collection recorded approximately 82 per cent. Business organisations disputed the scale of the disruption, with the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations describing participation as considerably lower.
The demonstrations were also fuelled by public anger following the eviction of an 87-year-old Madrid pensioner, Maricarmen Abascal, in September. Her eviction and subsequent death became a rallying point for housing activists, who have accused authorities of failing to adequately protect vulnerable tenants.
Housing campaigners are demanding stronger protections against evictions, greater regulation of rental prices, increased public housing investment and measures to discourage property speculation. Labour unions have also called for improved wages and a new minimum-wage agreement to help workers cope with rising living expenses.
The strike has added pressure to the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose Socialist Party is preparing for the November 29 election. His government has attempted to introduce housing measures, but a package of proposed reforms failed to secure parliamentary approval.
The timing of the strike has also generated political controversy. Conservative opposition parties and business groups have criticised the industrial action, arguing that it is politically motivated and intended to benefit the governing coalition ahead of the election. Union leaders, however, maintain that their demands concern housing affordability and workers’ living conditions across the country.
Although most demonstrations were peaceful, isolated confrontations between protesters and police were reported. Authorities also reported arrests and incidents of property damage in some locations.
The nationwide mobilisation highlights the growing importance of housing affordability in Spain’s political debate, with voters expected to scrutinise how competing parties intend to address the country’s worsening housing challenges.
Swifteradio.com
