Following in the wake of the housing access protests in early October, after the forced eviction in Madrid of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who died days later, Spain experienced this Wednesday the first general strike in 14 years, called by the country's two main unions to protest against the housing crisis and the loss of purchasing power. Several factors made it an atypical strike call, the BBC noted. The first is the timing chosen to hold it: two days before the start of the electoral campaign and 18 days before the general elections to be held on November 29. For that reason, experts say, the strike is inevitably a political event, and what happened during the day will be read in electoral terms. The second is whom it is directed against. The government of socialist Pedro Sánchez expressed its support for the measure, stating that it is held "in favor of rights" and not against anyone, although people close to the leader's circle went so far as to say it was "against the opposition," the British network reported. That is, against parties that have not been in the central government since 2018. And that is also unusual, the outlet added. Demonstration in the context of the general strike in Murcia. Photo: Europa Press EUROPA PRESS The president of the conservative Popular Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said that if this "is a strike against the opposition," it is "an absurdity that does not exist in any country in the European Union." Sánchez responded in a recent interview that "what is absurd is calling into question workers' right to strike." Finally, the BBC points out, general strikes in Spain have almost always been called as a protest against labor reforms or budget cuts. It is the first time that housing is the central issue. The average rent in Spain has nearly doubled in the last 10 years, which has eroded household budgets and angered voters, The Independent reports. The general strike was driven by the unions Workers' Commissions Trade Union Confederation (CCOO) and General Union of Workers (UGT), along with the Tenants' Union and other organizations under the slogan "Wages, housing, prices." Demonstrators during the rally called by UGT and CCOO during the general strike of November 11, in Vigo, Pontevedra, Galicia. Photo: Europa Press
Adrián Irago / Europa Press Housing activists are demanding several measures, such as the elimination of tourist apartments, an offensive against real estate speculation, and protection for tenants in the form of automatic renewals of rental contracts. The UGT and CCOO unions demand greater government intervention in the housing market and a new minimum wage agreement through negotiations with employers. The strike caused major disruptions to transportation, road closures, and blockades in various cities. The day was marked by the cancellation of 24% of AVE high-speed trains, 10% of commuter rail services, and more than 200 scheduled flights, as well as incidents at demonstrations in Madrid. At least 40 people were detained during the first hours of the protest. The unions described the turnout as "massive" and "very significant." UGT and CCOO reported 90% participation in ports, total stoppages in some automotive factories, 85% in the meat industry, 82% in waste collection, and 75% in the energy sector. In the health and social care sector, turnout was 38%, according to their estimates.🔴 Resounding success of the general strike and massive demonstrations across Spain for decent housing and fair wages. Massive turnout reaching 84% in Catalonia, and around 70% in Madrid, Andalusia, Aragon, and the Valencian Community. Housing is eating up… pic.twitter.com/C02XjdvtNi— Comisiones Obreras (@CCOO) November 11, 2026
CCOO's Education Federation indicated that the estimates they had on the turnout of the general strike in the education sector were "above 50% across all educational stages and above 80% in public universities." In turn, the Confederation of Tenants' Unions called the "first general strike for housing in history" a "success." But the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) called the day "a failure," a "strike of historic minimums at the sectoral and territorial level." Turnout would have been below 5% on average at the territorial and sectoral level. In its latest statement, the employers' association updated that, with the latest available data as of 5:00 p.m., the reduction in electricity demand was only 4.7% compared to Red Eléctrica's forecast and 2.5% compared to this Tuesday, figures far below those of previous strikes. The strike has been a success. Long live the fight against speculation. Long live the unions and social organizations. Rights, housing, wages, justice, and freedom. pic.twitter.com/c9VlTsmcn1— Frente Amplio (@Frente_Amplio_) November 11, 2026
The president of CEOE, Antonio Garamendi, attacked the Government for backing and promoting the general strike of November 11, calling it an "official," "atypical," and "preventive" call. From the opposition, the PP's secretary general, Miguel Tellado, insisted on the idea that the stoppage is called in a "preventive" manner against the government of Alberto Núñez Feijóo, which could emerge from the elections set for November 29. The PP's official spokesman, Borja Sémper, dismissed the strike as "an absurdity" against "common sense." 🔴 @Santi_ABASCAL on the CCOO and UGT strike:
"Pedro, you have failed. It has been a disaster. The strike's turnout has been shameful and many participated out of obligation, because of the violence, because the pickets went to harass workers, the self-employed, and shopkeepers.… pic.twitter.com/r6k0kesNP8— VOX 🇪🇸 (@vox_es) November 11, 2026
In the far-right party Vox, its secretary general, Ignacio Garriga, was the first to refer to the stoppage as a "general circus," and the secretary general of this party's union, Solidaridad, Jordi de la Fuente, accused CCOO and UGT of being "militias and mouthpieces" at the service of the Government: "Eight years silent as the grave in the face of workers' loss of purchasing power and well-being." The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, considered that the president and candidate for re-election, Pedro Sánchez (PSOE), failed in this Wednesday's general strike, because "the strike's turnout has been shameful." "If they go against the people, they will have us in front of them again." The organizers of the general strike for housing anticipate new protests if the Government that emerges from the elections on November 29 applies cuts to pensions, healthcare, or public services https://t.co/DLAofMndi4— EL PAÍS (@el_pais) November 11, 2026
But the organizers of the strike anticipated new protests if the Government that emerges from the elections on November 29 applies cuts to pensions, health, or public services. "Many of the parties running in the upcoming elections are clearly saying some of the things they want to do, and many of them go against the people. If they are going to go against the people, they will have us in front of them again," said Marcelo Picazo, CCOO's secretary of Communication, in conversation with the newspaper El País during the demonstration.