UGT and CCOO receive €110 million in subsidies and plan first general strike in 14 years
The UGT and CCOO unions have been granted a total of €110 million in state subsidies since 2018 and have announced a general strike, their first in 14 years, ahead of the upcoming election campaign.
From 2018 to the present, the Unión General de Trabajadores and Comisiones Obreras have collected €110 million in subsidies, marking a 263 % increase over the prior period and accounting for roughly three-quarters of all state assistance to unions. Their funding grew from €64.4 million under the previous government to €146.6 million under one outlet administration. The unions have also expanded their representation, now counting over 115,000 delegates for CCOO and more than 108,000 for UGT.
They plan a nationwide general strike, the first in 14 years, citing housing affordability and wage stagnation, while opponents note the strike coincides with the election campaign and aligns with the government's agenda. Union leaders have been visible at numerous ministerial events, underscoring a partnership with the Ministry of Labour, headed by Yolanda Díaz, a former CCOO lawyer. The strike will test the traditionally adversarial relationship between the unions and employer federations, which have opposed recent labour reforms such as the reduction of the working week.
Why it matters
The story highlights the growing financial link between Spain's biggest unions and the government and a politically timed strike that could influence the election.
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