Video Ad Feedback Violence erupts amid general strike in Spain 3:33 • Source: CNN Violence erupts amid general strike in Spain 3:33 Email Link Copied! Madrid, SpainReuters — 

Four million Spanish workers took part in a general strike on Wednesday, unions said, enduring stormy weather to set up picket lines in a protest against the country’s housing affordability crisis less than three weeks before a snap general election.

It is the first general strike since workers downed tools in 2012 against austerity measures during the euro zone debt crisis. The walkout is backed by Spain’s two largest unions, UGT and CCOO, representing more than a million workers, as well as tenants’ associations angry about rising rents and evictions.