More than 240 social movements across the Basque Country and Navarre have backed a general strike called by nationalist trade unions for November 11, 2026, targeting housing speculation and stagnant wages.
The eight convening organizations have expressed strong confidence that the mobilization will achieve widespread backing across the region.
- Over 240 popular movements and grassroots collectives across the Basque Country and Navarre have formally adhered to the November 11 general strike call.
- Eight labor organizations, including ELA, LAB, ESK, Steilas, Etxalde, Hiru, along with housing unions, organized the mobilization following extensive workplace and neighborhood assemblies.
- Core demands center on radical housing reforms—including the expropriation of speculators—and the establishment of an independent regional framework for labor relations and social protection.
Representatives from trade unions ELA, LAB, ESK, Steilas, Etxalde, Hiru, the Housing Trade Unions Network of Euskal Herria, and the Socialist Housing Syndicate announced the mobilization in Bilbao, as reported by Europa Press. The coalition stated that recent assemblies in factories, educational centers, and local neighborhoods demonstrated broad participation.
La solidaridad y el apoyo recibido de los movimientos populares es señal de que la huelga va a ser todo un éxito
, the organizers declared, predicting that the regional working class will deliver a firm response in defense of guaranteed housing and dignified wages.
According to ELA, the supporting organizations expect strong backing from the regional working class. The organizers stated that the mobilization aims to defend the Basque framework and press local institutions on housing access and wage floors. Union representatives issued a call to vaciar los centros de trabajo
and join protests scheduled across more than 70 localities.
| City | Confluence Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Eibar | Various columns | Midday / Afternoon |
| Tudela | Various columns | Midday / Afternoon |
The eight convening groups outlined three primary structural transformations required to stabilize the housing sector. As detailed by Europa Press, these include the expropriation of speculators, a ban on speculative activity, and the reorganization of housing to match working-class needs rather than rent-seeking models.
Organizers warned that without these measures, el rentismo se mantendrá
. Additional relief proposals include ending evictions and lowering housing prices, while union leaders argue es el momento de profundizar en un Marco propio de Relaciones Laborales y Protección Social
.
In addition to housing demands, the strike platform targets regional employers’ associations Confebask and CEN. The unions asserted that these business federations have refused to establish a distinct regional minimum wage adapted to local economic realities.
Organizers also criticized the central government for failing to implement structural changes over the past eight years, while condemning the Basque Government, the Government of Navarre, and municipal authorities across political parties for supporting policies that reinforce the real estate business.
The convening unions emphasized that they will not accept political parties utilizing the housing crisis for narrow interests without offering genuine solutions. They noted that collective organization remains essential to counter both property speculators and the real estate sector, pointing out that a general strike advocating for a distinct 1,500-euro minimum wage took place less than eight months previously.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
