What will the UGT decide on Monday?
The UGT leadership will discuss on Monday, 5 October 2026, the union's response to the housing crisis. This is the national UGT leadership: the general secretaries of the regional federations with Pepe Álvarez, not a Canarian body.
According to its statements, the possibility of a general strike is being assessed alongside the public mood. No decision or strike date has been announced. Various forms of mobilisation are on the table.
According to La Gaceta de Canarias, these include a 24-hour general strike, but also partial strikes and other protest actions. The decision has not yet been finalised.
Why is a general strike being discussed?
The background is nationwide protests against the housing shortage. On Saturday, 3 October 2026, around 3,500 people demonstrated in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria according to the Delegación del Gobierno and 6,000 to 8,000 according to organisers; another Canarian source cites 3,200 to 3,500 according to police and around 12,000 according to the organisation.
Protests also took place on Tenerife. The demands are directed, among other things, against speculation and rising housing costs. The immediate political trigger was the rejection of two housing decrees from the Spanish government in the Congress of Deputies on 2 October 2026.
The protest movements subsequently declared their intention to continue their mobilisation and prepare for a general strike.
What is the situation in the Canary Islands?
The housing crisis in the Canary Islands combines high rents, scarce supply and pressure from tourist use.
The Gobierno de Canarias has approved measures to increase the housing supply, including Decreto-ley 1/2024 of 19 February 2024, which contains urgent measures to reduce the housing stock on land used for tourism and to promote protected housing.
What concrete effects are there at present?
There is currently neither an officially declared general strike nor confirmed strike times, minimum services, closures, public transport disruptions or changes to rents and application deadlines. No concrete new rules, fees or application obligations are currently known.
The possible effects on work, transport and public services remain hypothetical for the time being. Anyone living in or travelling to the Canary Islands need not expect confirmed restrictions on Monday, 5 October 2026.
The decision on a general strike lies with the trade union organisations according to their statutes and state labour law. The administration does not decide whether the UGT calls a strike.
What remains open?
What is missing is a formal resolution by UGT and CCOO, a concrete date, the extent of participation in the Canary Islands and officially established minimum services. The next expected steps are the union deliberations on 5 October 2026.
On Gran Canaria, the Derecho al Techo platform ended its protest camp on Sunday, 4 October 2026, to focus organisationally on possible further actions and upcoming forced evictions. An open assembly was announced for approximately Thursday, 8 October 2026.
The exact date had not yet been finally confirmed in the available reporting. The question of whether a strike would affect only Spain or specifically the Canary Islands is also unresolved.
What does this mean for tenants and those looking for housing?
The housing crisis in the Canary Islands has concrete figures.
The tourist use of dwellings is subject to the framework of Ley 6/2025, de Ordenación Sostenible del Uso Turístico de Viviendas. Before starting the activity, the owner must submit a responsible declaration to the Cabildo (island government).