Spain Prepares for National Strike Amid Housing Crisis and Election Tensions
A 24-hour general strike begins in Spain as unions protest high rents and living costs, intensifying political debate ahead of the November 29 snap election.
By Larissa Bell ·
Spain is set to experience a nationwide general strike as residents and workers protest soaring rents and the rising cost of living. The 24-hour walkout is scheduled to begin at midnight on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. This industrial action has been organized by the country's two largest labor unions, Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Union General de Trabajadores (UGT). Their campaign centers on the slogan calling for better wages, housing, and price control. The last time these two major unions jointly called for a general strike was in 2012, during a period of severe austerity measures.
The strike is expected to cause significant disruptions across the country. Transport networks, schools, healthcare facilities, and other public services will face interruptions. Airlines anticipate flight cancellations and delays, while public transit systems in major cities will operate with reduced capacity. Essential services will maintain minimum staffing levels, but many shops, hospitals, and educational institutions may close or run with fewer employees.
The immediate catalyst for this unrest was the eviction of an 87-year-old Madrid resident in September. Maricarmen Abascal, who has since passed away, was forcibly removed from her home after her corporate landlord increased the rent. Images of her being carried out on a stretcher resonated deeply with the public, sparking nationwide demonstrations and encampments. This wave of protest contributed to a political crisis that prompted the government to schedule snap elections for November 29.
Political analysts suggest the strike may benefit the current government by keeping the housing crisis at the forefront of public discourse. Luke Stobart, a political analyst specializing in Spanish social movements, noted that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez often takes strategic risks. Stobart observed that a general strike before an election forces political actors to address housing, which is currently happening and remains central to the debate.
The housing deficit in Spain is substantial. The Bank of Spain reports that the country is short by 750,000 homes. Projections indicate this gap could exceed one million units by 2028. According to data from the Spanish Youth Council, average rents have surged to 1,176 euros per month. This figure nearly matches the average salary of a young person, which stands at 1,190 euros. Consequently, many individuals are forced to live in overcrowded shared apartments or remain in their parents' homes.
Spain's situation mirrors trends in other European nations, where mass protests over living costs are becoming weekly occurrences. While Prime Minister Sanchez has not explicitly endorsed the strike, he praised collective action in a video message on Monday. He stated that social gains such as the eight-hour workday, pensions, and public healthcare were achieved through collective effort and would not be taken away.
Despite his rhetoric, the Prime Minister's Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) faces challenges. The party has faced criticism for its handling of the migration crisis in Ceuta and is dealing with corruption scandals involving Sanchez's inner circle and family. Additionally, a deadly train crash in early November that killed 69 people has allowed opposition parties to shift the debate toward transport safety. Transport Minister Oscar Puente resigned following the incident, which occurred on the same line as a previous fatal accident.
The conservative Popular Party (PP) currently leads in opinion polls. They may form a government with the far-right Vox party, a scenario that would mark the first time a far-right party enters the national government since the end of Francisco Franco's dictatorship in 1975. Opposition parties have dismissed the strike as politically motivated, accusing unions of targeting the government just one day after the state funeral for the train victims.
Stobart noted that the strike carries multiple narratives from different left-leaning groups. Unions such as ELA, LAB, CIG, and CGT are critical of the government's failure to tackle housing speculation. He warned that it remains unclear if union leaders and the government can control the narrative, noting the risk of broader social unrest similar to what has been seen in France and Italy.
