Millions of workers across Spain joined a nationwide general strike on November 11, 2026, marking the country’s first such labor stoppage in 14 years to demand relief from a deepening housing crisis.
The event, which saw the closure of businesses and disruptions to public transportation, drew tens of thousands of participants in major urban centers, with organizers claiming 400,000 people took to the streets in Barcelona alone.
A Housing Crisis at the Breaking Point
Protesters mobilized under the slogan “Salaries. Housing. Prices.” to challenge a market where costs have surged while wages have stagnated.
The strike was fueled by long-standing grievances, including the 2025 and 2026 demonstrations where crowds openly demanded a “general strike now.” The movement gained critical momentum following the September 23 eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid apartment of seven decades; her subsequent death sparked national outrage and solidified her as a symbol for citizens who view homeownership as an impossible dream.
The economic pressure is particularly acute for the younger generation. Data from the property portal Idealista shows that a 50-square-meter apartment in Madrid cost an average of €1,170 in October, compared to a national average gross monthly salary of about €2,460.
Grassroots Movements Drove the Union-Organized Strike
The strike, while organized by the nation’s two largest trade union federations, the Workers’ Commissions (CCOO) and the General Workers Union (UGT), was largely driven by grassroots housing movements. This “unorthodox” strike was not a response to a single piece of legislation but a broader rejection of the housing affordability crisis.
Unai Sordo, head of the Workers’ Commissions, said that no amount of collective bargaining could offset housing costs that have climbed by 12 percent annually. The unions, which represent 228,000 shop stewards, said the strike would have been less effective without their workplace organization.
The action unfolded just weeks before a snap election on November 29. Recent polling puts the Popular Party at 31.9 percent, the Partido Socialista Obrero Español at 29.9 percent, and Vox at 18 percent. Political figures were sharply divided; Miguel Tellado, a spokesperson for the Popular Party, labeled the event an “election strike” and a “gift” to the socialist government.
Conversely, political science professor Oriol Bartomeus said that the government needed the strike to remain peaceful to refocus the campaign on housing, while the right-wing opposition hoped for chaos to argue that they are the only force capable of establishing order.
Disruptions and Police Interventions
The strike caused widespread disruptions, with metro lines and bus services in Barcelona stopping outside of rush hour. In Madrid, the Paseo del Prado boulevard became a sea of umbrellas as thousands defied heavy rain to march.
Tensions escalated as the day continued; in Madrid, police deployed pepper spray at a wholesale market, and in Barcelona, small groups of protesters vandalized shops and set fire to rubbish bins. Authorities confirmed 49 arrests nationwide.
General strike in Spain; police attack protesters. pic.twitter.com/VMreXLdxdc
Amnesty International Spain reported they were documenting concerning police conduct in cities including Alicante, Castellón, Vitoria, Valencia, Málaga, Granada, and Santiago, asserting that force must be used only as a last resort and with proportionality. Despite the clashes, organizers remained resolute. Pepe Álvarez, Secretary-General of the UGT, declared that regardless of the election outcome on November 29, “whoever governs… they will have to listen to the street.”
For U.S. citizens in Spain, the Embassy and Consulate provided guidance during the unrest, advising travelers to monitor the situation and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for security updates. While the strike was scheduled to conclude on November 11, labor and tenant unions have indicated that the struggle for housing rights will continue, viewing the action as a necessary step against what they characterize as rentier capitalism.
Earlier coverage: Clashes Erupt in Barcelona as Thousands Join Spain General Strike