What it is

Harsher punishment for strike-related coercion is removed

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 8 September 2020. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Socialista.

Official title: Private member's Organic bill to repeal Article 315, paragraph 3, of the Penal Code.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000083· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

The law removes section 3 of Article 315 of the Criminal Code. That section punished coercion in the context of a strike more harshly.
The preamble explains that the general crime of coercion is already enough to protect those who do not want to strike. So the harsher offense is not needed.
Judges and courts must review final judgments that were issued under the rule now being removed.
The law takes effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

Strikers and unions: They can no longer be punished under the harsher coercion offense for acts related to a strike.
Judges and courts: They must review final judgments issued under the removed rule.
People who coerce others: Anyone who forces others not to strike can still be punished under the general crime of coercion.

Words worth knowing

Coacciones: A crime consisting of forcing someone, through violence or intimidation, to do or not do something.
Sentencia firme: A court ruling that can no longer be appealed or changed.
Ley Orgánica: A special type of Spanish law, reserved for major matters, requiring an absolute majority in Congress to pass.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

Introduced8 September 2020Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
Admitted15 September 2020The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
Amendments6 November 2020Groups propose changes.
Committee3 December 2020A committee goes through the text in detail.
Plenary2 March 2021All 350 deputies vote.
Senate11 March 2021The Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
BOE28 April 2021It is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.

See the 15 official steps on a timeline

11 March 2021

How did the plenary vote?

More votes in favour 189 yes · 151 no · 8 abst.

Voted on: Overall vote on the Private member's bill for an Organic Law repealing article 315, paragraph 3, of the Penal Code, given its organic nature.

This law had 10 votes; this is the latest with every deputy’s vote. See them all

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, vote 18 of sitting 82· updated 11 Nov

Each dot is a seat. Tap one, or use the arrow keys, to see who it is.

Your province

How did the deputies from your province vote?

And your senators: the Senate does not link its votes to this law in its open data, so we cannot put them side by side here.

Or see how most of each province voted

More details: how each group and each province voted

The groups

Who voted in favour and who against?

In favour, most of Euskal Herria Bildu, Republicano, Socialista, Mixto, Gcup-ec-gc and GPlu. Against, most of Ciudadanos, Popular en el Congreso and VOX. 5 deputies voted differently from their group.

By province: in 21 most voted in favour; in 19, against.

Coloured by how most of each province’s deputies voted.

In favour: 21
Against: 19
Tie: 12

Result by parliamentary group
Group	Seats	How it voted
Euskal Herria Bildu	5	5 in favour
Republicano	13	13 in favour
Socialista	120	120 in favour
Vasco (EAJ-PNV)	6	6 abst.
Mixto	9	4 in favour · 3 against · 2 abst.
Ciudadanos	10	10 against
Gcup-ec-gc	35	35 in favour
GPlu	12	12 in favour
Popular en el Congreso	88	87 against · 1 did not vote
VOX	52	51 against · 1 did not vote

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

The same initiative in the other chamber:

XIV Legislature, Senate Private member's Organic bill to repeal Article 315, paragraph 3, of the Penal Code.

Presented before in:

XI Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished Private member's Organic bill to repeal Article 315, paragraph 3, of the Penal Code.
XII Legislature, Congreso de los Diputados· Unfinished Proposal to remove the aggravated coercion offense in strikes

Published in the BOE: Organic Law 5/2021, of April 22, repealing Article 315, paragraph 3, of the Penal Code.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000083
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.

Retrieved 11 November 2026
Congreso de los Diputados, vote 18 of sitting 82
The count and every seat’s vote.

Retrieved 11 November 2026
BOE, BOE-A-2021-6462
The law as published.

Retrieved 11 November 2026

The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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