About four million workers took part in Spain’s first general strike in 14 years on Wednesday, according to unions, as anger over rising rents, house prices and evictions brought people onto the streets less than three weeks before a snap election. Polls suggest the vote could bring the far-right Vox party into government.
Walkout disrupts transport and industry
Tenants’ associations called the 24-hour stoppage, which was later backed by Spain’s two largest trade unions, Comisiones Obreras and the Unión General de Trabajadores. Participation varied across the country, with unions reporting some of the strongest support in coastal regions, including Catalonia and Andalusia, where housing costs have risen sharply. Unions reported participation of about 90% in the automotive and port sectors and 82% in waste collection.
Picket lines disrupted access to factories, markets and transport hubs. Public transport in Barcelona was severely disrupted, and schools and universities in several areas closed or operated with reduced services. Large marches took place in Barcelona and Madrid despite heavy rain, with clashes between police and some protesters reported in both cities later in the day.
Housing costs shape election campaign
The strike brought together workers seeking wages that keep pace with living costs and tenants calling for stronger protections. Housing campaigners have urged the government to curb property speculation and restrict short-term tourist lets, which they say reduce the supply of homes available to residents. The movement gained momentum in September after an 87-year-old woman was evicted from the Madrid home where she had lived for more than seven decades.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the election for 29 November after right-wing parties blocked emergency housing legislation. Opinion polls suggest the conservative People’s Party could form a government with Vox. The stoppage put housing costs back at the centre of the campaign after a deadly rail crash had shifted attention towards the safety of Spain’s infrastructure.
Newshub Editorial in Europe – 12 November 2026
About four million workers took part in Spain’s first general strike in 14 years on Wednesday, according to unions, as anger over rising rents, house prices and evictions brought people onto the streets less than three weeks before a snap election. Polls suggest the vote could bring the far-right Vox party into government.
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