The two largest trade unions in Spain, Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) and Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), have announced a nationwide 24-hour general strike on 11 November 2026.

The joint industrial action represents the first general strike backed by both organisations in 14 years.

The timing follows a series of demonstrations triggered by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, an event that led activists to establish a protest camp in a central square of the capital.

According to official figures, 26% of Spanish tenants allocate an average of 40% of their income to rent and utilities, contrasting with an European Union average of 18%.

The primary objectives of the industrial action focus on unlocking collective bargaining processes. The organisers are demanding increased salaries to preserve worker purchasing power against inflation, a reduction in the standard working week, improvements to occupational health, and measures to eradicate workplace precarity.

Because this is a general strike rather than an industry-specific dispute, all sectors, including public transport, logistics, and flights, are eligible to participate.

Local and international flights face high risks of cancellations or significant delays. Train, metro, and bus lines across Spain will be heavily disrupted.

Within freight and maritime logistics, the transport employers' associations, such as CETM, acknowledge that workers have a legal right to participate.

The scale of the disruption is yet to be clear. However, rather than a total industrial shutdown, organisers plan a mix of full walkouts, partial shifts, and localized rallies depending on the region.

For more information, please contact your local Kuehne+Nagel representative.