Spain holds first general strike in 14 years over housing crisis, three weeks before elections

A strike over rent and evictions

Millions of workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, demanding that the government of Pedro Sánchez tackle the housing crisis. It is the first general strike in Spain in 14 years, and it fell less than three weeks before the national election. Public transport was expected to face delays, while factories and shops in the eurozone's fourth-largest economy were expected to slow down or close. The protest brings together employees, activists, politicians and ordinary citizens, although their demands differ considerably. Average rents in Spain have nearly doubled over the past decade, a burden that has weighed on household budgets and fed voter discontent.

Early incidents

Small incidents were reported in the first hours of the strike, including road blockades, some with burning tyres, in Barcelona, the country's second-largest city. Near the main wholesale market on the outskirts of Madrid, demonstrators and police clashed. Some striking workers set off fireworks at midnight while gathering in public squares in Barcelona. Reports from the first morning described the early stages as limited in scale, with disruption concentrated in those few points.

Turnout claims by sector

The two largest unions calling the strike, UGT and CCOO, reported broad participation from the early morning. In a statement posted on social media, they cited 'significant work stoppages in strategic sectors'. The unions put participation at 90% in the automotive and ports sectors, 85% in the meat industry, 82% in waste collection and 75% in the energy sector. These are figures from the unions' own statement.

Automotive and ports90%

Meat industry85%

Waste collection82%

Energy sector75%

Automotive and ports

90 %

Meat industry

85 %

Waste collection

82 %

Energy sector

75 %

Data from the article text

Anger over an eviction

Public anger over housing peaked after television broadcast the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home in Madrid in October 2026. Her case became a symbol for Spaniards who pay heavy rents with no realistic prospect of owning a home. Housing rights organisations used the public outrage over the eviction to press their cause. The government responded with emergency measures to limit evictions and support tenants. Right-wing parties in parliament refused to ratify those measures, arguing they would push properties out of the rental market.

Politics ahead of the vote

Sánchez called early elections for 29 November, hoping to secure four more years in office. A deadly railway accident at Ourda, which one source described as a severe blow to his campaign, came just as he had hoped to build momentum. The vote could open the way for the centre-right People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox to take power. The strike therefore lands in the final three weeks of a campaign in which housing has become a central issue.

Key dates

The dispute runs through three dates. The eviction was broadcast in October 2026, the strike took place on Wednesday, 11 November, and voters are due to go to the polls on 29 November. The timeline below shows those markers in order.