# Millions Join Spain's First General Strike in 14 Years Over Housing *World · World Desk · Published 2026-11-11T12:08:05Z* Canonical: https://amk.news/article/millions-join-spain-s-first-general-strike-in-14-years-over-housing > Spanish workers began a 24-hour nationwide general strike on November 11, 2026, to protest soaring housing costs and the current cost-of-living crisis. The mass walkout occurs less than three weeks before a snap national election as unions report massive participation in strategic industrial sectors. ## Key points - Spanish workers launched a nationwide general strike on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, to protest housing costs. - Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap national election for November 29 after failing to pass a housing package. - Popular Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo described the timing of the strike as a serious mistake following a rail disaster. - Property portal Idealista reports that a small apartment in Madrid averages 1,170 euros per month in rent. Millions of Spanish workers and activists launched the country’s first nationwide general strike in 14 years on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, to demand government intervention in a deepening housing crisis. The 24-hour mobilization, organized by the major trade unions UGT and CCOO, has crippled public transport and industrial production across the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy. Sparked by public outrage over rising rents and forced evictions, the strike arrives just 18 days before a critical snap national election scheduled for November 29, placing the right to affordable shelter at the center of the political debate. ## How has the strike affected Spanish infrastructure and transport? The general strike on Wednesday has caused significant logistical failures and service reductions throughout Spain, with major impacts on international travel and domestic transport. In the capital, Madrid, and the second-largest city, Barcelona, public transportation slowed to a crawl or reached a total standstill during the morning rush hour. According to reports from Al Jazeera and NPR, the strike has seen exceptional participation in heavy industry, including 90 percent involvement in the automotive and port sectors. The energy and waste collection sectors also reported substantial disruptions, with participation rates of 75 percent and 82 percent respectively. In Barcelona, protesters used burning tires to create roadblocks, while scuffles between picketers and police were documented near Madrid’s primary wholesale market. _Watch: Spain's first general strike in 14 years, 3 weeks before national polls • FRANCE 24 English — FRANCE 24 English_ International travel has also been hit, with the Lufthansa Group warning of flight cancellations and delays across its various airlines, including Swiss and Austrian. While the Spanish government typically mandates a "minimum service" level for essential transport, many schools, universities, and commercial shops remained closed or operated with skeletal staff. The US Embassy in Spain issued a safety alert advising travelers that museums and pharmacies might also be affected, while the UK government cautioned its citizens about potential unrest in areas where large demonstrations are expected to congregate later today. ## Why is housing the main driver of this protest? The primary motivation for the 2026 general strike is the extreme disconnect between stagnant wages and the cost of urban living, highlighted by the fact that average rents in Spain have nearly doubled over the last decade. Data from the property portal Idealista shows that a small 50-square-meter apartment in Madrid now averages 1,170 euros per month, nearly half the national average gross salary of 2,460 euros. The situation for younger Spaniards is even more dire; the Youth Council of Spain noted that rent can consume over 98 percent of a young person’s income. Public anger reached a tipping point following the September eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman in Madrid who died shortly after being removed from her home of 70 years. > "This is not a strike against anyone, but rather one in favour of a common response from all levels of government to a real problem, which is access to housing," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the newspaper La Vanguardia. Prime Minister Sanchez, a Socialist leader currently heading a minority government, called the snap election for November 29 after his administration failed to pass a legislative housing package in parliament. While Sanchez framed the strike as a call for a unified solution, the conservative opposition has been highly critical. Popular Party (PP) leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo described the timing of the strike as a "serious mistake," particularly following a recent rail disaster that killed 69 people, and accused the unions of being too closely aligned with the ruling party. ## What is the historical context of this general strike? A general strike is a rare and powerful labor tool involving a substantial portion of a country's total workforce across multiple industries to achieve social or political goals. This particular action marks the first time in 14 years that Spain’s two largest unions, UGT and CCOO, have coordinated a joint nationwide walkout. Historically, general strikes in Spain have been used to pressure the government during times of economic austerity or labor law reforms. By bringing the economy to a standstill, labor organizers aim to demonstrate the collective power of the working class, who Sandra Mora of the Tenants' Union told national radio RNE are the same people struggling to pay mortgages and rent. ## What is still unclear? The final economic toll of the 24-hour stoppage remains unconfirmed, as does the exact number of participants across the entire 24-hour window. While the UGT and CCOO have provided high participation figures for industrial sectors, business associations have contested the strike’s necessity, labeling it a politically motivated event tied to the upcoming polls. It is also unclear whether this mass mobilization will shift voter intentions before the November 29 election; currently, the Popular Party leads in most opinion polls, with the possibility of the far-right Vox party entering a coalition. Furthermore, the government has not yet announced if it will attempt to reintroduce its failed housing measures before the current legislative term concludes. **Sources:** This report draws on coverage by [Post Register](https://www.postregister.com/news/world/spain-general-strike/image_b19d50da-f34c-5e77-8fa9-e6c1eda788e1.html), [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/11/spains-first-general-strike-in-14-years-begins), [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2026/11/11/nx-s1-6037314/spain-general-strike), [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/spain-general-strike-trains-flights-b3082364.html), [France 24](https://www.france24.com/en/spain-s-first-general-strike-in-14-years-3-weeks-before-national-polls), [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/spain-strike-housing-elections-pedro-sanchez-68a061a72d7cdf842b7803a816e46ef0), [US Embassy in Spain](https://es.usembassy.gov/alert-general-strike-in-spain-on-november-11-2026/), [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/workers-across-spain-stage-first-general-strike-14-years-anger-over-housing-2026-11-11/). 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