Spain's first nationwide strike in 14 years expands turmoil in Europe

Spain's first nationwide strike in 14 years broke out on Wednesday (11th). (AP)

[Financial Channel/Comprehensive Report] Spain's first nationwide general strike in 14 years broke out on Wednesday (11th), paralyzing transportation, factories and public services. Workers held large-scale strikes and demonstrators clashed with the police.

The Financial Times reported that the nationwide strike was launched by trade unions to protest against soaring housing costs and low wages. The strike took place before left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced early congressional elections on November 29, and current polls show that Sanchez may lose to a coalition of conservatives and the far-right Vox party.

The general strike in Spain is the latest sign of growing unrest in an increasingly divided European society. Large-scale protests have broken out in France and Italy in the past few weeks, with demonstrators dissatisfied with the cost of living and falling education standards, some of which have further turned into violence and looting.

Before the general strike, a survey showed that only 20% of workers would participate in the strike. But the latest live video showed a large number of demonstrators gathering outside the workplace and clashing with police.

The Spanish Workers' Council (CCOO), one of the unions participating in the strike, said that in industries with strong union power, a large number of workers refused to attend the morning shift. The union said that up to 90% of employees in automobile factories, ports and meat processing plants were absent from work.

According to Spanish media reports, in Barcelona, ​​strikers blocked the road leading to the local wholesale market Mercabarna and set tires and pallets on fire on the road leading to the market. Others surrounded store employees who were still open and shouted orders to them to close. Public transport, hospitals and schools were also affected, with many providing only essential services on Wednesday.

The Spanish Federation of Enterprise Organizations (CEOE), which represents business leaders, said strike participation rates in most industries "seem to be very low." Reports from the main industry association for bars and restaurants also showed that strike participation rates were extremely low and the industry was basically operating normally.

Miguel Tellado, secretary-general of the conservative opposition People's Party, said the strike was an "electoral" action taken by the unions to prevent the People's Party from coming to power. The PPP is currently leading in the polls.

The last time there was a nationwide general strike in Spain was in 2012, when the then Popular Party government implemented painful austerity measures and budget cuts amid the euro zone debt crisis.

Sanchez's government actually supported the strike, but his former deputy prime minister, María Jesús Montero, said it was not a strike against anyone but to "defend workers' rights," a message that heightened doubts about the strike's goals.

An 87-year-old Spanish woman was forcibly evicted by the police because she could not afford the rent. She later died of illness, triggering the Spanish people's anger over rising housing prices and rents. The government blamed right-wingers for blocking the passage of housing reform laws, and announced an early election amid rising public dissatisfaction.

However, Sanchez's critics accuse him of doing nothing on the housing issue during his eight years in power and of numerous corruption scandals. In addition, a train accident that killed 69 people at the end of October also drew attention to the lack of investment in Spanish infrastructure during his term.