Spain's general strike of 14 November 2012 against austerity cuts

On 14 November 2012, Spain held a general strike called by the country's two largest trade union confederations, CCOO (Workers' Commissions) and UGT (General Workers' Union). It targeted the austerity measures of Mariano Rajoy's conservative government, including public spending cuts and a labour market reform passed earlier that year.

The stoppage was coordinated with action in other southern European countries hit hard by the euro crisis, such as Portugal, Italy, Greece and others, where strikes or protests took place the same day. In Spain, the strike affected transport, industry and public services, and there were demonstrations in major cities.

Unions and the government gave sharply different figures on participation and on the strike's impact on electricity use and industry. The government kept its austerity policy in place.

It was the most recent general strike in Spain before the new call, which is why it is often used as a reference point for how strikes work and how workers' pay is affected.