Basque Trade Unions Back November 11 General Strike for Housing Rights

• Major Basque trade unions, including ELA, LAB, and ESK, have announced their backing for the general housing strike scheduled for November 11.
• The strike aims to elevate the right to decent housing to a labor issue, arguing that rising rents and inflation have made current wage levels insufficient for basic living standards.
• Momentum for the strike grew following the death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who passed away after being evicted from the home she lived in for 71 years.

Union Perspectives

• ELA: The union criticizes regional governments in the Basque Autonomous Community and Navarre for failing to fully utilize their legislative powers to address the housing crisis, emphasizing that policy priorities must shift away from benefiting landlords and investment funds.
• LAB: Sees the struggle for housing as inextricably linked to defending fair wages and working conditions; it views the mobilization as part of a wider strategy against regressive political agendas.
• ESK: Stresses that securing the right to decent housing is essential for maintaining a dignified life for the working class and is actively coordinating with social movements to ensure a unified response.

Justification and Impact

• While employers have questioned the labor-related nature of a strike centered on housing, unions maintain that high housing costs directly diminish the real income and material well-being of workers.
• The unions intend to use the strike to pressure regional governments to implement stronger regulations on rental prices and improve access to housing.