Spain’s 11 November strike falls short of the 1988 shutdown

Spain held a general strike and demonstrations on 11 November, but they were not expected to bring the country to a halt.

The benchmark is the 14 December 1988 strike, when unions UGT and CCOO paralysed Spain in a major show of strength.

That strike opposed a youth employment plan by the socialist government of Felipe González, which unions believed could increase insecure work.

The government later withdrew the youth employment plan.

Since then, Spain has had seven more general strikes, including the one on 11 November, and their impact has generally been more limited.

Unions have stronger influence in large industries and transport than in small businesses and shops, which helps explain why daily life has not stopped as it did in 1988.

The article says the PP reacted forcefully to the latest strike, but gives no details of that response in the available text.