Workers in Barcelona can join a 24-hour general strike on Wednesday 11 November, called in support of decent wages and the right to housing. Barcelona broadcaster Betevé has set out what strikers are entitled to, what they must do, and how the day off will affect their pay.
What happened
According to Betevé, a vaga general (general strike) has been called for Wednesday 11 November. It is a 24-hour stoppage, and its stated aims are fair pay and access to housing. Workers in any sector may take part, with two exceptions: the cossos i forces de seguretat (police and security forces), and anyone who has been assigned to minimum services for the day.
Betevé explains that the right to strike is a fundamental right under Article 28 of the Spanish Constitution. When a strike has been called, workers may stay away from work “to defend their interests”, and the absence counts as justified.
What it means for you
Your pay
If you strike, you will not be paid for that day. Betevé says you also lose the proportional share of your salary supplements and of your pagues extres (the extra salary payments many Spanish employees receive, usually in summer and at Christmas). Your employer cannot deduct non-salary allowances, such as compensation for wear on your own tools or for travel distance.
The reason is that striking suspends your employment contract for the day, so no contributions are paid to the Seguretat Social (Social Security) for that time either. The hours you did not work will come off your next payslip. Betevé notes that striking has no effect on your holidays, either in how many days you get or in what you are paid for them.
Telling your employer
You do not have to tell your employer in advance that you plan to strike. After the strike, the company will check which employees took part and deduct the right amount from their pay.
If the strike makes you late
Betevé points out one risk for people who do not strike. If you reach work late because of the strike, and the delay is not your employer’s fault, your employer could ask you to make up the lost hours. Plan your journey with that in mind, particularly if you rely on public transport.
Minimum services
The right to strike is limited so that essential services keep running. Betevé gives hospitals, security and public transport as examples. Workers in these sectors can strike, but serveis mínims (minimum services) are set so that a basic level of service continues. This will not match the usual level of service or guarantee that things run normally. If you have been assigned to minimum services, you must go to work.
A separate category, serveis de seguretat i manteniment (safety and maintenance services), is agreed between each company and its workers’ representatives. These services protect people and property, including premises, machinery, installations and raw materials.
Picket lines
Betevé confirms that piquets (picket lines) are regulated and legal when their purpose is to inform people about the strike and publicise it, as long as they stay peaceful. Pickets may not intimidate or pressure workers who choose not to strike.
What to check before 11 November
- Ask your employer or workers’ representatives whether you have been assigned to minimum services.
- Look on your next payslip for the deduction for the strike day, and check that non-salary allowances have not been touched.
- If you are not striking, plan your commute so you are not late, since you could be asked to make up the hours.
What to watch next
Betevé’s article does not list the specific minimum services for public transport, hospitals or other essential services. Look out for those announcements before Wednesday 11 November, because they will decide which buses, trains and health services run that day.
Betevé also reports on reactions to the strike. Foment del Treball, the main employers’ association in Catalonia, has called the general strike “inoportuna” (ill-timed) and says it will look into whether the strike is legally sound. A large survey reported by Betevé found that 82% of respondents would be willing to support a general strike. Both are worth following in the days before the stoppage.
Source: Betevé
Sources
- Betevé: Drets i deures dels treballadors per la vaga de l’11 de novembre: sou, serveis mínims i piquets, accessed 3 November 2026
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