On Wednesday, November 11th, Spain goes on a general strike. The reason will sound familiar to anyone who has tried to rent a flat in Madrid lately: housing nobody can afford.
I’ll be honest: I’m not fully convinced the strike was called the way it should have been. I have my doubts about the timing and the process, and I don’t think those doubts are unreasonable. But I’ve realised that’s not the question that matters to me. The question is whether I support the cause. I do.
And I can afford to lose a day’s salary. Many others can’t, which is exactly why those of us who can should show up.
There’s also something else. General strikes don’t happen often. The last massive one in Spain was in November 2012, against that year’s labour reform. These are the days that end up in history books, the moments where a country decides out loud what it’s no longer willing to accept. Being part of the labour movement isn’t only about the days when everything is perfectly planned. It’s about showing up when it counts. I don’t want to look back and remember that I watched this one from my desk.
That’s reason enough for me. If this day helps move the country in a better direction, even a little, I want to have been part of it.
Now, a word for my colleagues. Striking is a right, and so is not striking. I respect every decision. What I do hope is that, whatever you decide, we can share the wins together if this strike gets results. Better housing and fairer wages would be good news for all of us, whether we were on the street on Wednesday or not.
See you on Thursday.