Spain's unions call first general strike in 14 years
The gist
Spain's UGT and CCOO unions began a 24-hour nationwide general strike over housing on November 11.
It is Spain's first in 14 years, weeks before a snap election.
How it unfolded
- Sep 2026Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman from Madrid, was forcibly evicted and died a few days later, becoming a symbol of the housing crisis.
- Oct 5, 2026Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap election for November 29 after his minority government failed to secure parliamentary approval for a package of housing measures.
- Oct 7, 2026UGT and CCOO announced a nationwide 24-hour general strike for November 11 over housing issues; the date still needed ratification by other unions.
Key terms
- general strike
- A strike in which a large share of the labour force of a city, region or country takes part across many industries.
- snap election
- An election called earlier than scheduled, often to resolve a political deadlock or seize an opportunity.
- minority government
- A government formed by a party or coalition without a majority of seats in the legislature.
Source: Wikipedia