Millions join Spain’s first general strike in 14 years in protest at housing crisis

Detailed summary

Four million Spanish workers joined the country's first general strike in 14 years, enduring stormy weather to protest against soaring housing prices less than three weeks before an election in which the far right could be catapulted into power.

MADRID —Four million Spanish workers joined the country’s first general strike in 14 years, enduring stormy weather to protest against soaring housing prices less than three weeks before an election in which the far right could be catapulted into power.

At the center of Wednesday’s nationwide 24-hour stoppage, called for by tenants’ associations and later backed by workers’ unions, is a pushback against Spain’s deepening housing crisis.

It is the first general strike since workers downed tools in 2012 against austerity measures during the euro zone debt crisis. The walkout is backed by Spain’s two largest unions, UGT and CCOO, representing more than a million workers, as well as tenants’ associations angry about rising rents and evictions.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hopes to harness voter resentment over housing in the November 29 election to shift the political narrative away from corruption cases involving his inner circle and a deadly train crash last month. So far, his Socialist Party still trails in opinion polls.

While workers’ unions reported high participation in the strike across several sectors, including 90% in the automotive and port sectors and 82% in waste collection, they said participation was uneven across the country. The strongest support was reported in coastal regions, such as Catalonia and Andalucía, where the soaring cost of housing has been particularly acute.

On Madrid’s Gran Via, one of the capital’s main shopping streets, protesters cheered as stores including Primark, H&M and Pull & Bear drew their shutters amid a heavy riot police presence.

“We’re going to close the Mango store,” the protesters chanted as they jangled sets of house keys above their heads.

Many shops in Barcelona were also closed and boarded up in anticipation of unrest.

Spain has a deficit of about 750,000 homes, which is set to grow to more than a million by 2028, according to the central bank.

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