(Al Jazeera Media Network) Spain is bracing for a nationwide general strike over soaring rents and the cost of living, as a deepening housing crisis fuels social unrest weeks before a crucial election.
The 24-hour walkout due to begin at midnight on Wednesday was called by Spain’s two biggest unions – the Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Union General de Trabajadores (UGT) – under their slogan: wages, housing, prices. The last time the pair called a general strike was in 2012 when the country was engulfed in an austerity crisis.
The protest will disrupt transport, schools, healthcare and other public services across Spain. Flight cancellations and delays are also expected, while public transport in major cities will operate at reduced capacity.
Schools, hospitals, shops and other services could also face closures or reduced staffing, although minimum services will be maintained in essential sectors.
The action follows the September eviction of an 87-year-old, who has since passed away, from her home in Madrid, after her corporate landlord increased the rent. Images of Maricarmen Abascal being removed on a stretcher struck a nerve. The moment led to nationwide demonstrations and encampments in a wave of protests that also fuelled a political crisis, prompting the government to call the November 29 snap elections.
The country has 750,000 fewer homes than it needs, according to the Bank of Spain, which estimates that the gap could exceed one million by 2028.
Rents have rocketed to an average of 1,176 euros (US$1,318) per month, and the average salary of a young person is 1,190 euros ($1,333), according to data collated by the Spanish Youth Council.
Many struggling to make ends meet are forced to live in overcrowded shared flats or stay with their parents.
Spain is not alone, as other European nations witness weekly mass protests over costs and living conditions.
