Transport services and several public sectors across Spain faced widespread disruption as the country witnessed its first general strike in 14 years, called by labor unions to protest the housing crisis and rising living costs.
Millions of Spanish workers walked off the job at companies and public transport services on Wednesday, in the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy, before thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of major cities in protests that spread across the country against soaring rents and property prices.
Madrid and the northeastern region of Catalonia, two of Spain’s major industrial centers, experienced some of the most significant disruptions, with traffic coming to a standstill on several major roads.
Housing activists hope the widespread mobilization will pressure the government to introduce stricter regulations to protect tenants and curb real estate speculation.
The strike comes as Spain’s left-wing government seeks to rally voters ahead of national elections scheduled for later this month, amid opposition gains in opinion polls.
“Wages, Housing, Prices”: The Slogan Behind the Strike
The strike was held under the slogan “Wages, Housing, Prices” and marked Spain’s first general strike since 2012, when the country experienced nationwide labor action against austerity measures imposed during the eurozone debt crisis.
The protest has received support from Spain’s two largest labor unions, the General Union of Workers (UGT) and the Workers’ Commissions (CCOO), which together represent more than one million workers, as well as tenants’ associations angered by rising rents and evictions.
Housing Shortage and Record Rent Increases
Data from the Bank of Spain indicate a housing shortage of approximately 750,000 units, a figure expected to exceed one million by 2028.
Rental prices in the capital, Madrid, have surged in recent years. The average monthly rent for a 50-square-meter apartment reached approximately 1,170 euros in October, according to property portal Idealista.
This comes as the average gross monthly salary in Spain stands at around 2,460 euros, meaning rent accounts for nearly half of the average salary before taxes and other deductions.
That proportion is significantly higher than the 30% threshold generally recommended by housing experts and public institutions as a reasonable limit for affordable housing costs.
