Spain was engulfed on Wednesday by massive protests and clashes between police and striking workers. It was the first general strike the country has held in the past 14 years. Protesters blocked roads, highways and industrial zones, while arrests were reported across Spain during clashes with law enforcement.
Protests in Madrid were also at the center of the tensions, where police intervened against a group of protesters at Mercamadrid, the capital’s main wholesale food market. There, according to the Workers’ Commissions union, 13 people sought medical assistance after the police intervention.
Union leader Unai Sordo condemned the police use of pepper spray and stressed that the protesters had been peaceful. At least 23 people were arrested by the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to public broadcaster RTVE. The 24-hour strike caused disruptions to transport and industrial activity in several parts of the country, organizers and Spanish authorities announced.
In Catalonia, protesters blocked major highways, industrial zones and the access points to Barcelona’s Sants railway station, while unions reported production stoppages at several of the country’s main car factories. The strike was organized by the country’s two largest unions, UGT and the Workers’ Commissions, together with other labor organizations.
The mobilization came after growing pressure from housing activists. The movement gained momentum following the case of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman who was evicted from her home and later died in hospital. The case became a symbol of protests against high housing costs.
Besides affordable housing, organizers are demanding wage increases and improvements in public services. “No salary can keep up with housing prices in our country,” UGT leader Pepe Alvarez declared before the strike began.