General strike: Union in the Balearics says: "We are confronting an entire system; it is a challenge to the system itself"

Palma protest for the right to housing earlier this month. | Photo: MDB

Andrew EdePalma25/10/2026 08:14

What began as a growing expression of public outrage over the difficulties of securing a home led to an extraordinary turn of events: snap elections and a general strike, both scheduled for November and both stemming from the same underlying social discontent that has placed access to housing at the very centre of public debate.

The two main unions in the Balearics are the CCOO and the UGT. José Luis García, general secretary of the CCOO in the Balearics, accepts that the housing problem is not new. "We have been demanding solutions for years. What was missing was a way to channel this social discontent, and the eviction in Madrid provided the spark. The Congress rejection of housing-related decrees was also a contributing factor. It was the right moment to link social demands with labour-related ones. The announcement of elections was unexpected, but it will allow us to see the parties' proposals before we head to the polls."

For the CCOO there are three core issues - pay, housing and prices. "Employers are blocking the national collective bargaining agreement, and we need better wages to cope with the rising cost of living. Housing is the primary issue, as any wage increase is immediately absorbed by housing costs. Young people are forced to leave the Balearics, and many workers live in dire conditions because they cannot find affordable accommodation."

Reflecting on housing measures announced by President Prohens during last week's general policy debate in the Balearic Parliament, García says some are positive, such as the building of public housing and using the tourist tax to fund it. "But they are insufficient. If an apartment costs 400,000 euros, what young person has 80,000 euros available for a down payment? We need to bring vacant properties onto the market, regulate prices, and combat speculation by 'vulture funds'. Housing has ceased to be a right and has instead become a financial instrument. The incentives proposed by the Partido Popular will not resolve this emergency.

"Wages should keep pace with housing costs, but 18% increases would be unaffordable for many companies. The solution lies in intervening in the real estate market to make housing more affordable. Employers should also mobilise, as this situation prevents them from finding workers."

García's counterpart at the UGT, Pedro Homar, says the landscape has changed. "In the past, strikes focused on demanding better wages and working conditions from employers or the government. Now, we are confronting an entire system. It is a challenge to the system itself. We cannot accept a situation where, despite being employed, working under collective bargaining agreements, and receiving wage increases, a large portion of the working class - especially young people - remains unable to access housing."

On the Prohens measures, Homar feels that tax exemption for those under 36 seems like a good idea but that it should also be tied to income levels. "While being young does make accessing housing difficult, it doesn't affect everyone in the same way. These measures need to be more clearly defined." The UGT wants the building of public housing and the utilisation of all land available to public authorities to promote affordable housing. "This includes limiting the purchase of second homes by foreign nationals - by amending the necessary laws - and curbing speculation by investment funds. Housing must reclaim its human and social function, prioritising this over its value as an asset."

He acknowledges that the Tenants Union was one step ahead of the trade unions in calling for a strike. "Our traditional sphere is the workplace, even though we are socio-political unions. The conflict has shifted to a terrain where the Tenants Union was better positioned; it has indisputably played a central role."