Spain's two largest unions, UGT and CCOO, coordinated the action alongside tenants' associations to address a housing deficit of 750,000 homes. Major disruptions hit automotive factories, ports, and transit, contributing to a 15.5 percent plunge in morning electricity demand despite severe weather. Although economists estimate the overall impact will reduce annual gross domestic product by only 0.1 to 0.2 percent, the protest turned violent in places, resulting in 40 arrests and 20 injuries from police clashes.
Key points
The walkout serves as a high-stakes political backdrop for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez a…: The walkout serves as a high-stakes political backdrop for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ahead of the November 29 snap general election.
Business leaders oppose the union actions, arguing instead that lower taxes and increased…: Business leaders oppose the union actions, arguing instead that lower taxes and increased construction are required to solve the deficit.
The shift toward remote working and service industries softened the general strike's macr…: The shift toward remote working and service industries softened the general strike's macroeconomic blow on annual gross domestic product.
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MADRID: Four million Spanish workers took part in a general strike on Wednesday (Nov 11), unions said, enduring stormy weather to set up picket lines in a protest against the country's housing affordability crisis less than three weeks before a snap general election.
It is the first general strike since workers downed tools in 2012 against austerity measures during the euro zone debt crisis. The walkout is backed by Spain's two largest unions, UGT and CCOO, representing more than a million workers, as well as tenants' associations angry about rising rents and evictions.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hopes to harness voter resentment over housing in the Nov 29 election to shift the political narrative away from corruption cases involving his inner circle and a deadly train crash last month. So far, his Socialist Party still trails in opinion polls.
Unions described the strike as a success even though participation was uneven across Spain, with the strongest support in coastal regions where housing pressures have been particularly acute.
SHOPS SHUTTERED
On Madrid's Gran Via, one of the capital's main shopping…
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