Spanish unions call general strike over housing before snap election

Trade unions in Spain have announced a nationwide general ⁠strike over housing issues for November 11, a few weeks before a snap election in which rising rents and evictions have become major campaign ⁠topics. The country’s two largest unions, the Workers’ General Union (UGT) and Workers’ Commissions (CCOO), said the planned date still needs to be ratified by other unions in a meeting later on Wednesday. It will be the first general strike jointly backed by Spain’s two largest unions ‌in 14 years. “We cannot ignore the fact that housing is where most of our wages go. What is the point of raising ‌the ‌minimum wage if housing costs are rising three, four or five times faster?” Madrid Tenants’ Union spokesperson Valeria Racu said.