Spain's first general strike in 14 years hits ports and car plants over rents and wages
Spain staged its first general strike in 14 years on Wednesday, as workers and tenants walked out over soaring housing costs and wages that have not kept up. The 24-hour stoppage disrupted ports and car factories less than three weeks before a snap general election.
The economic hit
Unions and employers gave opposite verdicts. One measurable sign of disruption was a 25.6% drop in industrial electricity demand, according to Euronews.
| Sector | Participation claimed by unions |
|---|---|
| Ports (notably Valencia, Algeciras) | 90% |
| Car industry | 90% |
| Meat industry | 85% |
| Waste collection | 82% |
Source: CCOO and UGT, via Euronews.
Madrid's metro, running a minimum service, carried 21% fewer passengers at 7 a.m.
Why people walked out
The average rent of €1,176 ($1,315) equals about 98.7% of a young person's average monthly salary, according to the Youth Council of Spain, Reuters reported. The Tenants' Union, which spearheaded the strike, said more than 3 million people joined demonstrations.
Turnout estimates diverged widely. In Madrid the Tenants' Union counted more than half a million marchers, while the central government's office put it at 120,000. In Barcelona, organisers said 400,000 and city police 55,000.
There is one issue that is fracturing the country, and that is the difficulty many people face in accessing housing.
Politics weeks before the vote
Spain holds a general election on Nov. 29. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called it after right-wing parties defeated emergency housing legislation, The Guardian reported.
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo warned the unions may have made a "historic mistake". UGT leader Pepe Álvarez replied that whoever governs "will have to listen to the people".
Police recorded 1,500 incidents nationwide, Euronews said. It was the eighth general strike since Spain returned to democracy in the late 1970s.