Union representatives reported high participation rates across several key sectors, citing figures of 90% in automotive and port operations, and 82% in waste collection. However, participation was uneven, with the strongest support reported in coastal regions such as Catalonia and Andalusia, where housing costs have risen sharply. In Barcelona, workers established roadblocks, some involving burning tyres, causing public transport to come to a near-standstill. In Madrid, the action coincided with an ongoing teachers’ strike, and scuffles broke out between picketers and police near the main wholesale market.
Government officials stated that 27 people had been arrested by midday for minor incidents across the country. The strike was overshadowed by severe weather, as Spain’s meteorological agency issued 14 alerts for storms expected to bring strong winds and heavy rains, affecting planned afternoon marches.
The housing crisis has become a central political issue following the September eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her home, where she had lived for over seven decades. This event triggered widespread protests and drew attention to a market where rents have risen by 80% and home prices by 63% within a decade, driven in part by the proliferation of short-term tourist rentals.
Tenants’ unions are demanding government intervention, including rent freezes, limits on evictions of vulnerable people, and a crackdown on short-term lets. Unai Sordo, head of the Workers’ Commissions, told Cadena Ser radio that the struggle for housing access is currently dividing the country. The strike’s official slogan, “Salaries. Housing. Prices,” reflects these core demands.
Political reactions to the strike have been sharply divided. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who called the snap election for 29 November after right-wing parties blocked emergency housing legislation, used the event to highlight the importance of labor rights. He credited the labor movement with securing historical gains such as the eight-hour workday and national health insurance.
In contrast, right-wing leaders criticized the action. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the leader of the Madrid region, accused striking workers of “holding citizens hostage” and described the situation as chaotic. She stated that she had spoken to Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the People’s Party and the likely next prime minister according to polls, urging him to end what she called the disruption. Polls indicate that the most likely outcome of the November election is a right-wing coalition between the People’s Party and the far-right Vox party.
