Spain: 24-hour general strike as unions demand affordable housing and higher wages
A 24-hour general strike is under way across Spain on 11 November 2026, called mainly by the two largest trade union confederations, CCOO and UGT. Protesters are demanding affordable housing, decent wages and price controls.
Author: Thames Compass editorial teamPublished: 2 min read
The two largest Spanish trade union confederations, CCOO and UGT, called a nationwide strike that began overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, 11 November 2026, and is due to last 24 hours. According to TVN24, the two confederations together represent more than two million workers. Tenants' organisations and almost all sector-based trade unions have also joined the protest.
Unions are demanding higher wages, affordable housing and price controls during a period of high inflation. According to money.pl, protests have been planned in almost 130 towns and cities.
Background: an eviction and an early election
The strike follows a wave of protests that spread across Spain after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from a flat in Madrid that she had occupied for 70 years. The protests began in September 2026. After parliament rejected government proposals on tenants' rights, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced early parliamentary elections, scheduled for 29 November 2026.
Impact on transport and services
According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the strike may affect healthcare, public transport, education, public administration, the justice system, telecommunications and infrastructure. The minimum services that must be maintained are expected to vary by region. Separately, train drivers at the state railway Renfe have announced strikes for 10–12 November, which could affect commuter, regional, long-distance and high-speed services.
What this means for you
The strike does not change any rules on residence, work or tax in the UK. People in the UK planning to travel to Spain should expect possible disruption to transport and on the streets, particularly near tourist sites. The Polish government's Odyseusz travel service advises checking updates by searching for the hashtag #11N.
Trade unions and housing rights groups from seven European countries, including the UK, have also called for coordinated protests on 20–22 November against rising living costs, according to AFP as reported by money.pl.
Sources
- Spain: a 24-hour general strike began overnight, just before the elections
- Spain comes to a standstill. First general strike in 14 years. One issue has united everyone
- Polish Foreign Ministry warns. Consequences "difficult to predict"
- In seven countries, people plan to take to the streets. They call for a wave of protests
- Workers across Spain stage first general strike in 14 years
This article was prepared automatically by AI from the listed sources and published without prior editorial review. Spotted a mistake? Use the “Report an error in this article” button.
Photos
- Cover: „riot, protest, street, crowd, laws”, author: Antonio_Cansino, licence Pixabay Content License; cropped or resized.
- Photo 1: „subway, underground, city, manhattan, metro”, author: igorovsyannykov, licence Pixabay Content License; cropped or resized.
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