What is this building in Dordogne which is celebrating its 40th anniversary?

Ln November 30, 1984, after more than seven years of negotiations, the new building of the Périgueux Labor Exchange was inaugurated. On this occasion, an exhibition, followed by a grand ball, was held in the new premises. Almost 40 years later, to the day, a new exhibition is being held within the walls of the Labor Exchange, which traces the history of the building, but also of the CGT departmental union in Dordogne since 1864.

Ten panels on display

Ten panels including photos and explanations have been arranged. There are also tables around with additional documents, and then a 24-page booklet explaining the history of the place in even more detail. “The labor exchanges are being called into question by public and political power,” explains Frédéric Dousseau, president of the CGT social history institute in Dordogne. It's important to celebrate the anniversary of something that belongs to the working class. »

“Labor exchanges are being called into question by public and political authorities. »

These panels therefore look back on the history of construction and unions in Dordogne, because “few people know the history of the Labor Exchange, so we wanted to open up to that,” explains Frédéric Dousseau. The first panel evokes the creation of the international workers' association, in London, in 1864, then of the Paris Labor Exchange in 1887. Then, on to that of Périgueux in 1898, accompanied by the original documents of the first signatures, which can be read and manipulated.

Around forty labor exchanges threatened

It is also possible to admire the different places where the Périgueux Labor Exchange was located over time on three panels, before focusing on the creations of the local union of Bergerac, but also of the departmental union in 1972, “in order to separate the Labor Exchange from the union organization so as to no longer confuse them,” adds Frédéric Dousseau. A panel is also dedicated to Collaboration during the Second World War, “a dark period but one which must not be forgotten”, breathes the president of the IHS.

During the evening, Frédéric Rousseau, as well as Pascal Fournet, confederal worker and finally Mathieu Le Roch, departmental secretary of the CGT, spoke. “While the IHS focuses on the historic part of the building, I will focus more on the forty French labor exchanges which are threatened and which risk finding themselves on the street, without premises”, underlines Mathieu Le Roch . Because there is “no legal framework which obliges the provision of premises to the departmental unions, which ultimately depend on the goodwill of the municipalities”.

This exhibition, which was inaugurated with great fanfare during this anniversary evening on Friday November 29, will be held all weekend in the room located on the ground floor of the Périgueux Labor Exchange. After that, the panels and documents will be moved up to the third floor and will still be available for viewing by the public who would like to see them.