A general strike began in Spain on 11 November 2026 a 24-hour general strike, called by, among others, CCOO and UGT The reasons are demands for affordable housing, higher wages and compensation for the loss of purchasing power. The strike was notified to the Ministry of Labour and affects workers across the country.
The legal position is clear. The Real Decreto-ley 17/1977 of 4 March 1977 provides in Article 6.2, that during lawful participation in a strike, the employment contract is temporarily suspended. This means that no entitlement to pay accrues for the period not worked. The Konstitución Española also guarantees the right to strike; Article 28.2 establishes the right to strike as a constitutionally protected means of representing interests.
For payroll, this means that employers may reduce pay proportionally to the specific hours or days on strike. In practice, pro-rata components are also taken into account, such as shares of the regular weekend rest period and periodic additional payments, where these are allocated according to when they accrue. A flat-rate or greater reduction is not permitted.
Protection against reprisals remains in force. Disciplinary measures for taking part in a lawful strike are prohibited. Employers may neither reduce holiday entitlement nor, without agreement, require workers to make up the time missed. If a dismissal nevertheless occurs in response to participation in the strike, it may be deemed unlawful.
The precise calculation of the deduction depends on the type of pay and whether a collective agreement applies. The key factors include monthly salary or hourly pay and the relevant collective agreements. Differences may arise, for example, in shift schedules, allowances and the treatment of additional payments. Trade unions note that individual cases – such as reporting sick on the day of the strike or having leave already approved – must be considered separately.
The general strike on 11 November 2026 is therefore clearly situated in labour and constitutional law: the right to strike remains protected, while entitlement to pay is lost for the time missed. For the precise payroll calculation, workers should refer to the relevant provisions of Real Decreto-ley 17/1977 and the applicable collective agreements.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).