Four million Spanish workers strike over housing crisis, disrupting services

A general strike by 4 million Spanish workers – around one-fifth of the total workforce – against the ​country's housing crisis took place on Wednesday.

Called by the country's main unions, it is the first general strike in 14 years. Workers in Spain endured stormy weather to set up picket ‌lines, with large marches taking place in Madrid, Barcelona and cities across Spain. 

Around 120,000 people took to the streets in Madrid, while more than 50,000 joined protests in Barcelona. 

In the evening, clashes between police and some protesters erupted in Barcelona, where footage shows masked demonstrators setting fire to rubbish bins and smashing shop windows, as police responded with tear gas. Many shops in the city also closed and boarded up in anticipation of unrest.

At least 73 arrests nationwide by 2100 GMT ​from at least 1,044 incidents linked to the general strike were reported by the police, including blockades of offices and industrial estates and burning of rubbish containers.

The strikes caused major disruptions to transport and other public services across Spain, reflecting growing public frustration over the country's worsening housing crisis.

Spain faces a housing shortfall of around 750,000 homes, a figure expected to exceed one million by 2028, according to the country's central bank.

Public anger intensified after the eviction of the 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from a flat in Madrid where she had lived for seven decades. Abascal died in hospital weeks later.

With fewer people able to afford a home, renting has increased sharply, putting pressure on that market. The average ​rental price of 1,176 euros ($1,315) is equivalent to about 98.7% of a young person's average monthly salary in Spain, according to the Youth Council of Spain.

"I'm 36 years old and I still can't move out on my own," said Madrid resident Jesus Gonzalez, ‌who works ⁠in a hospital IT department and supports the strike. "Rents just keep going up, house prices just keep going up, and it’s simply impossible."

(With input from Reuters)