Thousands are expected to take to the streets of Barcelona on 1 May 2026 as trade unions organise multiple demonstrations for Workers' Day. The protests aim to highlight demands for better labour conditions, an end to job insecurity, and solutions to the rising cost of living and housing crisis.
Comissions Obreres (CCOO) and Unió General de Treballadors (UGT) will hold a joint march, starting at 11:30am from Plaça d'Urquinaona. The procession will move along Ronda de Sant Pere and conclude at Plaça de Correus. Their slogan, “Against wars and fascism, more rights and more trade unionism,” calls for action against international conflicts and human rights violations, which they say worsen the working class's struggle for affordable housing. The unions also demand higher wages and reduced working hours to counter the loss of purchasing power.
Unions Demand Action on Living Costs
The Confederació General del Treball (CGT) will commemorate two significant anniversaries this May Day: 90 years since the first publication of Mujeres Libres (Free Women) magazine and the popular uprising against Franco's coup d'état. Their Barcelona march will start at 11:30am from Jardinets de Gràcia and end at Plaça d'en Joanic, where a manifesto will be read. The CGT states that workers' quality of life is not improving, despite claims to the contrary from employers, politicians, and some social agents. They also criticise the erosion of purchasing power and the transformation of housing into a luxury.
Intersindical has also called for a protest at 11:30am, beginning at Plaça de Tetuan. This demonstration will focus on three areas impacting workers' living conditions: wages, housing, and transport. According to their published manifesto, workers, particularly women, are experiencing a continuous decline in purchasing power. The union points to stagnant wages combined with significant increases in housing prices, ranging from 70% for rentals to 26% for purchases. They also criticise the lack of investment in the Rodalies commuter rail network.
Calls for Humanising Work and Fair Wages
Unió Sindical Obrera (USOC) will mark Workers' Day with a march starting at 11:30am from Plaça de Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer. The route will proceed along Passeig de Sant Joan, finishing at Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret. Under the banner “Humanise work,” USOC encourages workers to demonstrate in defence of their labour rights.
These collective actions underscore a broad dissatisfaction among Catalonia's workforce regarding economic stability and social equity. Union leaders hope the demonstrations will pressure authorities and employers to address long-standing issues, including the implementation of a minimum wage appropriate for Catalonia's social and economic environment, as suggested by Intersindical.
