Spain is set to stage a nationwide housing‑rights strike on 11 November, with the country’s two largest unions, UGT and CCOO, joined by every Basque federation, while the employer lobby has condemned the move. The strike, timed just weeks before a snap parliamentary election, is being presented as a demand for stronger state regulation of the rental market and for higher wages.
Background of the housing crisis
Spain has been grappling with a deepening housing crisis for several years, characterised by soaring rents, a shortage of affordable units and a wave of evictions that have ignited public protests. According to a poll cited by RTVE, 76% of Spaniards believe the government must intervene in the housing market. The sentiment reflects growing frustration over a system many say favours landlords and large property firms.
Maricarmen Abascal’s symbolic role
The strike is being framed as a tribute to Maricarmen Abascal, an 87‑year‑old Madrid resident whose forced eviction in late September became the emblem of the crisis. The BBC, DW.com, South China Morning Post and several other outlets reported that Abascal died two weeks after the eviction, prompting a surge of solidarity actions across the country. El Constitucional quoted union organisers saying the date was chosen “for Maricarmen”.
"76% of Spaniards think the state must intervene in the housing market," RTVE reported.
Abascal’s case has been repeatedly invoked by protestors, who argue that her eviction illustrates the human cost of Spain’s deregulated rental sector. Her death has intensified calls for legislative change, with unions demanding rent caps, stronger tenant protections and the creation of public housing stock.
Union mobilisation and political reaction
Spanish unions have declared 11 November a general strike that will halt public services, shut down transport, and see mass demonstrations in major cities. The European Confederation of Trade Unions (ETUC) has publicly endorsed the strike, describing it as “a necessary response to a social emergency affecting millions of families.” The move has drawn criticism from the business community; the national patronal federation issued a statement rejecting the strike as “politically motivated and economically harmful.”
Domestic politics add another layer of complexity. The strike comes just before a snap election called by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government. The People's Party (PP) and centre‑right parties have warned that the mobilisation could be used to sway voters. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Dolores García Lorenzo Garamendi, speaking to Demócrata, labelled the strike “political” and signalled that the government may seek legal avenues to challenge it, accusing some organisers of exploiting Maricarmen’s case for partisan gain.
Government funding of the two main unions has also entered the debate. Libertad Digital reported that the Sánchez administration subsidises UGT and CCOO, a fact that opponents are using to allege a conflict of interest in the strike’s orchestration.
Despite the controversy, the strike enjoys widespread public support. In addition to the 76% figure on market intervention, recent surveys indicate that a majority of Spaniards favour stronger tenant rights, even if it means higher taxes on landlords. Organisers say the protest will not only target housing policy but also demand higher wages, linking the two issues as part of a broader struggle against economic inequality.
As the date approaches, unions are coordinating transport shutdowns, school closures and workplace walk‑outs across the 17 autonomous regions. The Basque Country, historically a stronghold of labour activism, has pledged full participation, while employers across sectors have warned of “serious disruptions to the economy.” The outcome of the strike could shape the political narrative ahead of the snap election and influence the trajectory of housing reform in Spain.
