Workers across Spain on Wednesday staged a nationwide general strike to protest soaring housing costs, marking the country’s first industrial action of its kind in 14 years.
The strike, backed by the country’s two largest labour unions, UGT and CCOO, alongside tenants’ associations, disrupted transport services and affected businesses in several cities.
Hundreds of thousands of commuters experienced delays as protesters picketed logistics centres, industrial areas and major highways across the country.
In Madrid, demonstrators blocked a major road leading to the city centre despite heavy rainfall, causing traffic congestion. Several businesses, however, remained open.
The situation was also tense in Barcelona, where many shops shut their doors and were boarded up ahead of possible unrest. Metro and bus services operated on limited schedules during the morning before disruptions continued into the afternoon.
The protesters, who also chanted slogans calling for the closure of Mango stores, were met with a heavy presence of riot police.
The industrial action comes amid growing public anger over rising rents, housing shortages and evictions. It followed weeks of demonstrations triggered by the eviction and subsequent death of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid.
Spain’s last general strike took place in 2012 during the eurozone debt crisis, when workers protested against government austerity measures.
The latest protest also comes less than three weeks before the country’s November 29 general election.
Data from Spain’s central bank indicate that the country faces a housing shortfall of about 750,000 units, a figure projected to exceed one million by 2028.
