Spain’s largest labor unions have called a sweeping 24-hour general strike for Wednesday over the country’s housing crisis and soaring cost of living. The strike is being led by the country’s two major unions, CCOO and UGT, alongside workers’ organizations and housing rights movements. It marks the first general strike jointly organized by both unions in 14 years.
1+Strike organizers are demanding deep structural reform of the housing market, including strict rent controls, a ban on evictions, and construction of 1.5 million public housing units. On the employment front, they’re calling for immediate across-the-board wage increases of up to 7% and a higher minimum wage to protect purchasing power eroded by inflation.
The protests intensified following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home in Madrid, which led to the establishment of a protest encampment in the capital. According to official data, 26% of renters in Spain spend around 40% of their income on rent and utilities—compared to just 18% on average across the European Union.
The strike has been designated as general, meaning all economic sectors are permitted to join, including logistics and public transportation. Among them are aviation, ground transportation, freight, and logistics—which could lead to significant cancellations and delays in domestic and international flights.
1+Major disruptions are expected on train lines, metro systems, and bus routes nationwide. Supply chains and ports are also expected to be affected. The exact scope of the shutdown remains unclear, as organizers are planning a combination of full stoppages, partial shifts, and local demonstrations depending on different regions across the country.