The general secretaries of CCOO (Comisiones Obreras) and UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores), Rosa Mantecón and Mariano Carmona, respectively, provided an initial assessment of the general strike during a gathering of pickets at noon in Santander's Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The strike aims to highlight key issues affecting the working class, including housing, wages, rising prices, and the deterioration of public services.
According to preliminary data, participation in the strike is estimated to be between 45% and 50%, with some public service sectors reporting figures between 40% and 50%. Mantecón stated, "One of the main objectives of this strike is being fulfilled: to bring attention to the problems faced by workers and to focus on public housing policies, which are essential in this country, especially at a time when these issues have been neglected."
Carmona expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting, "I thought people would find it more difficult to participate, but we are seeing a participation rate of 45-50% in companies based on reports from workplaces."
Mantecón described the strike as "atypical, unlike any we have seen in Spain before," emphasising that it is not merely a response to a decline in working conditions or rights, but rather an effort to secure more rights. She highlighted the contradiction of many families struggling to make ends meet despite a period of maximum employment, stability, and rising wages.
"We are in a critical situation, and the fact that we are on the streets today, experiencing a general strike so normally, with informative pickets circulating through industrial zones and at bus stops, is significant. It marks a turning point that will change things for the future," she added.
Carmona stressed the urgent need to address the housing crisis, condemning the situation of homes resulting from evictions during the previous economic crisis. He pointed out that these properties, after years of social rental agreements, are returning to the hands of speculators instead of being integrated into public housing stock. "These homes should be managed by public housing companies or protected housing schemes to provide solutions for people in need. They are being handed back to speculators, which would mean a third time that profit is made from these same homes," he said.
Mantecón noted that housing issues are also affecting access to employment, as some individuals cannot afford to live near job opportunities. "It is time to stand firm and take to the streets," she declared. Carmona reminded attendees that companies are making more profit than ever while workers continue to face a loss of purchasing power, referencing the stalled sixth State Agreement on Collective Bargaining aimed at recovering over 7% lost due to rising costs.
CCOO and UGT anticipate a strong turnout for the demonstration scheduled for later that day in Santander, which will commence at 7:00 PM from Plaza de Cuatro Caminos and proceed to Plaza Porticada.
