Spain's general strike on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, began with widely varying levels of participation across the country, according to the first estimates released by trade unions CCOO and UGT. Figures collected at around 07:00 placed participation between 41% in Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha and 75% in Andalucía and Aragón.

The estimates were presented by Rafael Espartero, secretary general of UGT's Internal Affairs area, and Agustín Martín, CCOO's organisation secretary. The unions described the initial response as uneven, with stronger participation in several coastal and industrial areas.

They also stressed that the early figures did not yet include the impact of the strike on public administration, education, commerce, financial services or many private-sector services, which generally begin operating later in the morning.

Significant Regional Differences in Early Participation

According to the unions, the strike had a stronger initial presence along the Cantabrian coast, the Mediterranean, Catalonia and Andalucía, particularly in coastal areas.

Participation was lower in Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha, which union representatives associated with differences in housing pressures and local economic conditions.

The figures were based on the end of night shifts and the beginning of morning shifts. They therefore represented an early snapshot rather than a complete assessment of the 24-hour stoppage.

Logistics Sector Reports 80% Participation

One of the strongest figures highlighted by CCOO and UGT was in logistics, where they reported approximately 80% participation in the industrial areas of Illescas, in Toledo province, and Guadalajara.

The unions also reported significant stoppages in the automotive, petrochemical and meat-processing industries.

They pointed to an estimated 10% reduction in electricity consumption as further evidence of reduced industrial activity, particularly in energy-intensive industries and sectors including transport, food processing and steel transformation.

The unions argued that these early developments indicated substantial disruption in some strategically important sectors, despite the more moderate response reported in other parts of the country.

Unions Describe the Strike as a Success

Although the initial figures varied considerably between regions and industries, the union representatives described the strike as successful, provided participation continued at the same level.

They also said the response reflected differences in the impact of the housing crisis across Spain. Areas experiencing greater pressure on housing costs, they argued, had shown stronger support for the stoppage.

The unions were also critical of minimum-service requirements imposed by several regional authorities, arguing that some arrangements restricted the effective exercise of the right to strike.

In Madrid, they highlighted a decision by the High Court of Justice of Madrid to suspend certain minimum-service requirements established by the regional government for education, justice and transport. The court considered those requirements disproportionate and restrictive of the right to strike.

Reports of Arrests and Injuries During Early Pickets

The union representatives also reported incidents during the first hours of the strike.

They said two people had been arrested: a CCOO transport-sector representative at Mercamadrid and a metalworkers' union delegate in Zamudio, in the Basque Country.

The unions also reported more than a dozen injured people. Among those mentioned was the confederal youth secretary, who they said had suffered a head injury at Mercamadrid.

They further alleged that pepper spray had been used against pickets at Fuencarral bus depot and Mercamadrid. Both organisations said their legal teams would examine available video footage and consider possible legal action.

These accounts were statements made by union representatives and should not be confused with a complete official police record of arrests or injuries.

Employers Report Lower Participation in Most Sectors

The employers' organisations CEOE and CEPYME offered a different assessment of the strike's early impact.

In a statement published on 11 November, they said participation appeared low in most sectors and territories, although somewhat higher in areas and industries with stronger union representation.

The organisations also reported that electricity demand had fallen by around 10% after 08:00, a reduction they said was below the level recorded during previous strikes. They acknowledged differences between sectors and regions, as well as difficulties accessing some industrial estates and major cities due to picket activity.

The contrasting assessments highlighted the difficulty of establishing a single participation figure during the early hours of a nationwide strike.

A Developing Picture of the 11 November General Strike

The first figures from CCOO and UGT showed a wide regional range, from 41% to 75%, but did not include several major sectors that had yet to begin their working day.

The employers' organisations, meanwhile, reported low participation across much of the economy, with stronger support in more unionised areas.

As the strike continued, further figures were released by the unions, including a separate estimate of approximately 48% participation in the Balearic Islands among workers outside minimum-service arrangements.

The initial national figures should therefore be understood as an early assessment of regional participation, rather than a final nationwide result. The full impact of the strike varied by location, industry and the time at which participation was measured.