What have CCOO and UGT announced?
The Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and the Unión General de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores (UGT) announced a 24-hour general strike for this autumn on 5 October 2026. The call is to be developed jointly with social organisations, tenants' initiatives and the Sindicato de Inquilinas.
The final decision still has to be confirmed by the highest governing bodies of the two unions. The organisations did not name a fixed date. CCOO general secretary Unai Sordo said on 5 October that the strike is expected to take place in early November 2026.
The announcement came after two housing decrees failed in the Spanish Congress of Deputies. The unions want to extend the housing policy protest to workplaces and collective bargaining.
What demands lie behind the strike?
The unions say they are calling for “decent wages for a decent home”. This includes renewing the AENC collective bargaining agreement and unblocking collective bargaining negotiations.
For the planned VI. Acuerdo para el Empleo y la Negociación Colectiva (AENC), CCOO and UGT name annual increases of 4 to 7 percent. These are to be supplemented by wage revision clauses and measures to improve access to housing.
The unions' housing demand calls for a social and political pact for the right to housing, permanently protected public housing, rent caps and the effective application of Spanish housing law in all regions.
Why do the unions say wages are not enough?
According to the unions, wages are not enough to cope with housing costs and inflation. CCOO Canarias reported an average collectively agreed pay increase of 2.96 percent for August 2026.
The most recently published inflation rate was 3.4 percent. According to CCOO Canarias, the collectively agreed pay increase therefore lagged behind price rises.
The demands are directed at the various public administrations with responsibility for housing and at employers' associations. In the unions' view, these must recognise that wages have to secure access to a basic need such as housing.
What impact will the strike have on the Canary Islands?
A general strike can trigger walkouts in numerous sectors and demonstrations. Specific effects on buses, ferries, flights, schools, public offices, shops or medical facilities are not currently confirmed.
For a strike day, minimum services are normally set by the responsible authorities. No details on this are yet available in the sources consulted.
For residents, foreign residents and visitors, there are so far no new housing rules, application deadlines, fees or automatically applicable price changes. The demands for rent caps and public housing are political demands, not yet approved measures.
What is still open?
The exact date, the final approval of the union bodies, the social organisations involved, the demonstration locations and the minimum services remain open. The date decision is to be taken jointly with the tenants' organisations.
UGT general secretary Pepe Álvarez ruled out an overlap with the election campaign. The unions did not name a new date or further details up to 6 October 2026.
What happens next?
The unions are calling on workers to take part in the campaign in workplaces and on the streets and to support the general strike. The mobilisation and the collective bargaining negotiations are to continue.
The final setting of the strike date will be coordinated with the Sindicato de Inquilinas and other organisations. As soon as a date is confirmed, the responsible authorities are also likely to publish details of minimum services.