Around four million workers took part in a nationwide general strike in Spain on Wednesday, according to unions, protesting against soaring rents, housing
shortages and evictions less than three weeks before a snap general election. The 24-hour walkout is the country's first general strike since 2012, when workers protested against austerity measures during the eurozone debt crisis. It was backed by Spain's two largest trade unions, UGT and CCOO, which represent more than a million workers, as well as tenants' associations angered by rising rents and a growing number of evictions. The unions described the strike as a success, although participation varied across the country. Support was strongest in coastal regions, where housing costs have become a particularly pressing issue. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is hoping to make housing affordability a central issue in the 29 November election, shifting attention away from corruption investigations involving his inner circle and a deadly train crash last month. His Socialist Party, however, continues to trail in opinion polls.
Around 4 million workers joined Spain’s first general strike in 14 years, protesting soaring housing costs and rents ahead of the November 29 election. Unions reported 90% participation at ports and car factories, while clashes with police left 20 protesters injured and 40 people arrested. Spain faces a shortage of 750,000 homes, with average monthly rent consuming nearly 99% of a young worker’s salary.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 11, 2026
In Madrid, protesters gathered on Gran Via, one of the capital's main shopping streets, as several major retailers, including Primark, H&M and Pull & Bear, lowered their shutters amid a heavy police presence.
"We're going to close the Mango store," demonstrators chanted, waving sets of house keys. Several shops in Barcelona were also closed and boarded up ahead of possible unrest.
Spain faces a housing shortage of about 750,000 homes, a figure expected to exceed one million by 2028, according to the country's central bank.
As home ownership becomes increasingly unaffordable, demand for rental accommodation has risen sharply. The average monthly rent of €1,176 now accounts for about 98.7% of the average monthly salary of a young person in Spain, according to the Youth Council of Spain.
Protesters throwing bins and chairs tonight in Madrid, Spain https://t.co/RvQroFGaNR
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) November 11, 2026
"I'm 36 years old and I still can't move out on my own," said Jesus Gonzalez, a Madrid resident who works in a hospital IT department and supports the strike. "Rents just keep going up, house prices just keep going up, and it's simply impossible," he said.
UGT and CCOO said participation reached 90% in the ports and automotive industries, with factories including Volkswagen's plant in Navarre and SEAT's facility in Barcelona reporting complete stoppages.
Spain's electricity demand fell by as much as 15.5% between 10:00 and 11:00, according to grid operator Red Electrica.
🚨 JUST IN: EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES are erupting in Barcelona, Spain — rioters are going BERSERK and it can only be stopped with mass arrests3rd world ideology strikes again.This is insane. THE CITY IS BURNINGEvery nation that lets these savages run free will see their governments fall to the leftists and invaders who have no interest in preserving the West!The police should go FULL FORCE
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 11, 2026
Public transport was also affected. Barcelona's metro said services would be suspended outside peak commuting hours, while Madrid's metro reported a 42% drop in peak-hour usage compared with the same period a week earlier.
However, the growing number of people working remotely and the increasing importance of the services sector are expected to limit the strike's overall economic impact.
Police reported 40 arrests by midday following 476 incidents linked to the strike. These included blockades of offices and industrial areas, as well as rubbish containers being set on fire.
At least 20 protesters were injured during a police operation involving tear gas and batons. Unions said they would file a criminal complaint over what they described as a "disproportionate" response. The strike follows weeks of protests sparked by the eviction and subsequent death of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid.
