Spain Sees First General Strike in 14 Years Amid Housing Crisis; Violence Erupts in Barcelona

MADRID: Hundreds of thousands of workers joined a nationwide general strike in Spain on Wednesday against soaring rents, housing costs and the rising cost of living. It was the country’s first general strike in 14 years and its first major walkout focused primarily on inflation and living costs.
The strike was held under the slogan “Wages. Housing. Prices.” It disrupted transport services, forced numerous businesses to close and led to the cancellation of several flights across the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy.
Protests Turn Violent
Organisers said around 400,000 people marched in Barcelona, although city officials put the figure at 55,000. In Madrid, authorities estimated that 120,000 protesters took to the streets despite heavy rain.
After a largely peaceful march, small groups of young protesters clashed with police in Barcelona’s Paseo de Gracia area. Demonstrators smashed shop windows, set fires and threw fireworks and flares at riot police. A group of masked individuals also attempted to enter an Apple Store. Police said 49 people were arrested across Spain.
Airport operator AENA said approximately 5 percent of flights were cancelled during the strike.
Why Anger Is Rising
Average rents in Spain have nearly doubled over the past decade. In October, a 50-square-metre apartment in Madrid cost about 1,170 euros per month, while the average gross monthly salary stood at around 2,460 euros.
Public anger intensified after the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen in Madrid last month, followed by her death. Housing-rights campaigners used her case to help mobilise support for the strike. Almaudena Lopez, 74, said her 43-year-old son still could not afford to buy a home.
Housing-rights groups are demanding automatic lease renewals and stronger protections for tenants, while unions are calling for more public housing and a new minimum-wage agreement.
Unions and Employers Disagree
The CCOO and UGT trade unions claimed participation of 90 percent in car manufacturing and ports, and 75 percent in the energy sector. However, the employers’ association CEOE described the strike as a failure, estimating overall participation at around 5 percent.
Both sides agreed that participation was higher in heavy industry and transport than in retail and hospitality.
Political Stakes
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called elections for November 29. His Socialist Party’s campaign had already been damaged by October’s train crash, which killed 69 people. Analysts say the government needed a peaceful strike to refocus public attention on housing, but the violence in Barcelona has further complicated the political situation.