Spain’s Housing Strike Disrupts Transport and Industry

The action, organized by labor unions and tenant groups, brought demonstrations to Madrid, Barcelona and dozens of other cities. Organizers said the strike aimed to unite workers’ and tenants’ campaigns. “The 11N is not only a labor strike or a strike of tenants, it is a general strike for housing and against the cost of living,” they said.

The immediate catalyst was the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal, known as Maricarmen, an 87-year-old who had lived in her Madrid apartment for 70 years. After an investment fund bought her building, her monthly rent rose from €500 to €2,650, an increase of more than 400%. She was removed from the apartment on a stretcher, but returned after a deal was reached amid protests. She died in hospital two weeks later.

Housing costs have risen faster than wages, while average rents have nearly doubled in a decade. Spain’s central bank estimates a housing shortfall of about 750,000 homes, which could exceed one million by 2028. Public rental housing makes up less than 2% of the national supply, compared with an EU average of around 8%. The Spanish Youth Council says average rent of €1,176 a month takes about 98.7% of a young person’s average monthly salary.

The Madrid Tenants’ Union reported 90% participation in automotive and port industries, with Volkswagen and SEAT factories completely halted. Waste collection, meat processing and energy operations also saw widespread shutdowns. “The strike has exceeded the labor unions’ expectations,” Workers’ Commissions secretary-general Unai Sordo told The Associated Press.

The protests also drew scrutiny of police conduct. The Madrid Tenants’ Union said at least four people were hospitalized in the capital after officers used batons and pepper spray; Amnesty International Spain said it was documenting concerns in several cities. The strike unfolded amid an election campaign: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called an early election for November 29, while a fatal train collision in Toledo province that killed 69 people has complicated his strategy. Union leader Pepe Álvarez said whoever governs after the vote “will have to listen to the street.”