General Strike in Spain; mixed thoughts

Is the fact that most weeks here in Spain we seem to have some form of strike, holiday or seemingly unneccesary days off rather perplexing for the non Spanish resident?Maybe as a foreigner (albeit one that feels very well installed in the Catalan society) my views on this subject would inevitably differ from those of native Catalans or Spanish people.
As a freelancer I don't maintain a 9 to 5 schedule.Therefore taking four consecutive days off for Halloween, (or at the start of December as is planned for next weeks´ ´puente´), is not something that positively affects my bank account, nor my mood.
Here in Catalonia, the sheer mention of the term 'vaga' seems to say it all.A lazy, non laboral day in which hoodied, agitated crowds gather to annoy those who wish to work.Or is it?The press would certainly have us believe so.
On the other hand, and speaking from a personal point of view, if my own children were in school here or if I had a mortgage and a great deal of general stress, maybe I would indeed take to the streets in protest for my rights.
Can we state clearly whether protesting does indeed function effectively?Are those of us who don't participate lacking a social conscience?
Rejecting a days work in order to protest against the unstable work and economic situations here in Spain, does seem rather counter productive.Or are we simply missing the point?
It could simply be a case of losing your own set of values for a moment, and trying to forget how things would work in your own country.Being flexible and willing to absorb another set of principles and way of doing things whilst living in another country, is an almost must.However, the interesting, and sometimes conflicting mindset of a foreigner and it´s host country, is the key to how one responds to such socially explosive activities.