Madrid:
Spain's two main labour unions on Friday called a general strike for November 14, the second such blanket action this year against the government's biting austerity measures.
The UGT and CCOO unions announced in separate statements that they had approved the multi-sector strike as part of a day of action called by the European Trade Union Confederation.
"Unemployment, cuts, the impoverishment of the majority and the deterioration of public services justify a general strike," the CCOO said.
Spain is in its second recession since the worst of the economic and financial crisis started in 2008 and the unemployment rate is close to 25 per cent.
The government has announced tens of billions of euros in pay cuts, tax rises and other reforms that it says are needed to lower Spain's deficit and strengthen its economy in the long term.
The measures have sparked numerous mass street protests this year and the year's first general strike on March 29.
CCOO leader Ignacio Fernandez Toxo said in the statement the strike showed "firm opposition to the austerity policies that are generating unemployment and a recession that we are suffering in this country and in southern Europe, and which is advancing unstoppably."
The UGT said in a motion approved on Friday: "All this is putting families in our country in an unsustainable situation."
The UGT and CCOO, which represent the majority of unionised workers in Spain, were due to meet later on Friday with smaller unions and other groups to formally launch the strike call.
The European confederation has called for a Europe-wide day of action including strikes, demonstrations and other actions.
Unions in Portugal have called a general strike for the same day and the main private sector union in Greece, GSEE, has also called a strike.