EconomySpain

Spain holds first general strike in 14 years over housing

Millions of workers joined a 24-hour general strike in Spain over housing costs, the first in 14 years. It comes less than three weeks before a snap election that could bring the far right to power.

Illustration: A crowd of small anonymous figures holding blank plain signs on a picket line outside a workplace, painted in warm light.
Illustration

Workers across Spain stopped work on Wednesday in a 24-hour general strike, the first of its kind in 14 years. The country's largest unions and tenants' associations backed the action, which centred on the deepening housing crisis.

The main worker groups called for wide participation but expected turnout to vary by region, depending on how hard the housing crisis had hit each area. They also planned large afternoon demonstrations over the loss of workers' purchasing power.

In numbers

Under 3 weeksBefore the snap election

Disruptions included delays in public transport and slower work at factories across the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Many schools and universities closed or ran at minimal capacity.

The vote is less than three weeks away, and the strike has put housing near the centre of the campaign.

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