Rising housing prices bring Spaniards out on strike, putting government under pressure

Spain is experiencing its first general strike in 14 years. The country’s main trade unions called it to protest the housing crisis, rising rents and the increasing cost of living.

The union action has caused significant disruption to public transport and other services, while protests have been held in several major cities.

Madrid and Barcelona were expected to become the centers of the largest demonstrations. Particular problems were reported in the capital’s main industrial areas and in Catalonia, where several major roads were blocked.

Pepe Álvarez, leader of the UGT union, called the strike a success and said participation had been massive. Unai Sordo, head of CC OO, also said turnout was very substantial.

The Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) offered a different assessment, saying participation was low and varied from one sector and region to another.

The Interior Ministry announced the arrest of dozens of people following various incidents. Spanish media also reported attacks on real estate agency offices.

The strike followed a series of protests against rising housing prices and the difficulty of meeting everyday expenses.

One incident that fueled public anger was the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from the Madrid apartment where she had lived for around 70 years. Several weeks after her eviction, she died in hospital.

Data from real estate portal Idealista show that in October, the average monthly rent for a 50-square-meter apartment in Madrid reached 1,170 euros.

The average gross monthly salary in Spain is around 2,460 euros. As a result, rent for a home of this size accounts for almost half the average salary, well above the 30% threshold that experts consider affordable for housing.

Social discontent has become intertwined with political developments as the country prepares for snap parliamentary elections scheduled for November 29.

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his allies have backed the strike and urged workers to demand better living and housing conditions.

Sánchez said collective action and protests had helped secure many workers’ rights, including the eight-hour workday, pensions and public healthcare.

The People’s Party (PP), the main opposition force, interpreted the strike as a political action organized for electoral gain.

PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo called the strike pointless and criticized the unions. Other opposition figures accused the government of exploiting public discontent to influence voters ahead of the elections.

The prime minister responded to the criticism by saying that what was pointless was questioning workers’ right to protest and go on strike.

Gonzalo Álvarez, 27, who works in sales and volunteers with an organization defending tenants’ rights, also took part in the Madrid protest. He said the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal was the incident that sparked the protest.

Álvarez lives with his partner in a small apartment in Madrid’s Arganzuela neighborhood. Together, they pay 1,000 euros a month in rent, while each spends roughly half their income on housing.

In his view, the combination of current property prices and salary levels makes buying an apartment almost impossible.

Miguel Garrido, a representative of Spain’s largest business organization, criticized the strike. He argued that businesses are not directly responsible for rising housing prices.

Garrido described the protest as political and closely linked it to the decision to call snap elections.

Electricity consumption in the industrial sector is one of the indicators used to assess the impact of a general strike.

Spain’s grid operator, Red Eléctrica, reported that consumption fell by 7.5% during the early hours of Wednesday.

During the last general strike, in 2012, the drop in energy consumption during the same period exceeded 15%.

Participation in the protests and the strike’s economic impact are expected to serve as indicators of social discontent in Spain ahead of the November 29 parliamentary elections.