In Cantabria began a general strike on 11 November 2026. According to matching figures from the trade unions, participation during the first working and early shifts stood at around 41 per cent of employees not covered by minimum service requirements. The first few hours reportedly passed without any major incidents. In Santander and Torrelavega trade unions organised picket lines and rallies outside workplaces.
The trade unions UGT and CCOO cite, among other motives, protecting purchasing power, measures to counter price rises and social demands. Significantly higher rates were reported in some sectors. These included, in particular, parts of the food industry, waste management and areas of municipal services. Different figures from employers are expected over the course of the day; the employers’ organisation CEOE-CEPYME had predicted little interest in the strike in Cantabria ahead of time.
The Government of Cantabria is responsible for setting the minimum services needed to maintain essential functions. These were published by Boletín Oficial de Cantabria and apply to critical areas such as emergency services, water supply, waste disposal and parts of public transport. The rules set binding staffing and service levels intended to ensure the operation of essential public services without undermining the right to strike. Companies and employees were informed of the precise arrangements in advance; reduced but clearly defined staffing levels apply to the affected shifts.
Demonstrations and rallies were announced for the evening of 11 November in Santander and other locations. The trade unions called on people to take part and said they would continue to monitor and report on participation throughout the day. No specific overall estimates for the full day of the strike were available that morning.
The participation figures reported so far refer specifically to the first morning shifts and to employees who had the option of joining the strike. Statements about how the day will unfold should therefore be treated as provisional. Figures from trade unions and employers typically diverge; counting methods and reference groups sometimes differ, for example over whether minimum services and production lines that have stopped are included. Official assessments by the authorities are generally published after they have reviewed minimum-service reports and returns from workplaces.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).