Spain Sees First Workers' General Strike in 14 Years Amid Anger Over Housing Crisis

4 million across Spain join strike
Pedro Sánchez government at risk of collapse

AP-Yonhap News

Spanish workers launched a general strike on November 11, the first in 14 years since the 2012 eurozone debt crisis. Protests have spread across Spain, led by young people angered by the severe housing shortage. The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is at risk of collapse ahead of the general election later this month.

According to The New York Times (NYT), unions across the country, including Spain's two largest labor unions, the General Workers' Union (UGT) and the Workers' Commissions (CCOO), joined forces to launch the general strike at midnight. More than 4 million of Spain's 22 million workers took part in protests. More than 80% of workers in Catalonia and Andalusia were reported to have joined the strike.

The strike brought factories to a halt as more than 90% of workers in Spain's major ports and automotive sector joined it. Operations were suspended at Volkswagen's plant in Navarre and SEAT's plant in Barcelona. Strike participation in the meat, waste collection and energy sectors was also reported to be between 70% and 80%.

Large numbers of public transportation services, including trains and flights, were also canceled because of the general strike. Spain's state-owned railway company Renfe said 24% of high-speed and long-distance trains and 10.2% of commuter and medium-distance trains were canceled. Some 5.8% of flights were canceled, and traffic in central Madrid fell by 13%. The Barcelona Metro and city buses suspended service outside rush hour. According to power grid operator Red Eléctrica, electricity consumption fell by as much as 15.5% between 10 and 11 a.m.

The severe housing shortage is said to be the main cause of the strike. According to the Bank of Spain, the country's housing shortfall is expected to reach 750,000 homes this year and 1 million by 2028. In major Spanish cities, home prices, which plunged after the COVID-19 pandemic began, started climbing sharply again as tourism resumed after the pandemic ended.

Rising home prices have further deepened the housing crisis facing young people. According to the Spanish Youth Council, the average monthly rent nationwide is 1,176 euros (about 1.75 million won), equivalent to 98.7% of the average monthly salary for young people.

As the massive general strike spread across the country, the Sánchez government faced the risk of collapse with Spain's early general election on November 29 just around the corner. Sánchez had previously proposed an emergency bill to Parliament to curb landlords' forced evictions and ease upward pressure on rents in response to housing protests. After the bill was rejected, he announced that he would call an early election. However, his approval rating has plunged amid the massive general strike, raising the possibility of an election defeat.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.