Spain | Even if the government calls for a general strike

The mass protests against the housing crisis in October are set to culminate in a nationwide general strike this Wednesday. Photo: Oscar DEL POZO/AFP "Long live the general strike," declared Yolanda Díaz at a congress of the Workers' Union (UGT) in early November. The Labor Minister and Vice President in Spain spoke to the union of a “flood of hope”. She reiterated that it was “of course” a “political” strike because it was centered around the housing crisis.

This Wednesday's strike was forced by a broad movement and weeks of occupations and demonstrations. It also led to the Social Democratic government of Pedro Sánchez dissolving parliament for early elections on November 29th.

For right-wing politicians like People's Party (PP) European Parliament member Maravillas Abadía, it is irritating that government members like Díaz are calling for a strike for "better wages and housing." “What exactly has she been doing all this time?” she asks. But left-wing activists and the movement on the streets also accuse the minority government and Díaz of eight years of inaction.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is trying to reinterpret the strike: "This is a strike that is not directed against anyone who stands up for a cause that bears the name of an 87-year-old woman who died after a forced eviction: Maricarmen."

The scandalous eviction of the woman, as usual without an offer of replacement, put a spark to the fuse of a lot of pent-up social explosives. Her death at the end of September is believed by many to be the fault of the government. She could therefore have prevented the eviction. “300,000 families were put on the streets in eight Sánchez years,” activist Arantxa told “nd” indignantly. It had occupied the central square in the capital Madrid for weeks and called for a general strike.

"300,000 families were put on the streets in eight Sánchez years."

But the discontent is also directed against trade unions close to the government. Despite the impoverishment and housing crisis, they had to be “forced” to go on the first general strike in 14 years, says Arantxa. For the UGT it is clear that they are not striking against the previous government. The Workers' Commission (CCOO), the largest union in the country, is only demanding "the government that comes to power after November 29" to meet its demands.

The fact that the general strike motto of the CCOO and UGT is: “For the right to an apartment” also seems Spanish to the renowned economist Santiago Niño Becerra. Because “the right to decent and adequate housing” has long been guaranteed in Article 47 of the Constitution. Now concrete implementation must be demanded, he says.

In Barcelona, ​​the youth organization Arran and the Student Association of Catalonia (SEPC) occupied the CCOO headquarters there for an hour on Monday. They described the CCOO as “traitors to the working class.” She is trying to use the strike "to campaign for the PSOE." The anarcho-syndicalist CGT, which occupied the Catalan Ministry of Labor, sees it similarly. This is also led by social democrats.

Many will go on strike on Wednesday with an uneasy feeling. The editor-in-chief of the online newspaper Vilaweb, Vincent Partal, speaks of a “necessary strike,” but one that is “clearly manipulated.” Where there are combative alternatives, as in the Basque Country, a massive strike can be expected in all areas.

Other media have corporations or billionaires behind them. We have the nd.Genossenschaft and readers like you. That makes us independent and that’s exactly how we want to remain. But it also means: without you the calculation won't work. We need 300,000 euros by the end of the year.

You can donate directly here, one-time or regularly, so that nd stays.