Several Spanish trade unions have announced a nationwide general strike for 11 November 2026. Representatives of Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) and other organisations submitted the formal notice to the Ministry of Labour on 19 October. The call is supported, among others, by CGT, CNT, CO.BAS, Intersindical organisations and the Confederación de Sindicatos de Inquilinas. The strike is planned to last 24 hours.
The main demands are higher wages, stronger collective bargaining coverage and measures to address sharply rising rents. The unions point to the strain that prices and housing costs are placing on households and say the impact is being felt across society. The calls do not specify concrete legislative wording; they seek political decisions to promote wage growth, regulate rents and curb speculative vacancy.
The employers’ association CEOE announced that it would examine the legality of the notice and challenge it if necessary. Following registration of the Huelga general it is now up to the authorities to minimum service levels set these, so that essential sectors such as transport and healthcare can continue to function at a basic level. This concerns the extent of work obligations in critical services and the protection of the right to strike.
Meetings were held in various regions to mobilise support. CCOO and UGT organised a joint delegates’ meeting in Getafe on 26 October, attended by several thousand people. Further meetings are planned before strike day. The aim is to establish as unified a position as possible among the organisations involved and secure broad participation in sectors with high collective bargaining coverage and in the public sector.
Politically, the planned strike comes amid intensifying debates over losses in purchasing power and housing shortages. The unions regard the general strike as a legitimate means of pressure to strengthen social protections and correct imbalances in the labour and housing markets. Employers and some politicians, by contrast, warn of economic risks and legal uncertainty. The actual impact of 11 November on production, supplies and public transport will depend on participation and on the scope of minimum services.
The Huelga general would be the first nationwide action of this kind in several years. It is aimed at workers in both the private and public sectors and at tenants who can take part through local coalitions. The run-up to strike day includes negotiations on minimum services, legal reviews and organisational preparations in workplaces and public administrations.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).