Thursday 4 April 2002

The fellow workers of the CNT AIT (the French anarcosyndicalist organization) are squatting the old "Bourse du Travail" for more than two months. They are facing eviction at any time. They need active support !

The 10th of january, at 6 o’clock the morning. A group of militants retake possession of a neglected building, just at the center of the town of Bordeaux : the old "Bourse du Travail", at 42 street Lalande.

The Syndicalist Struggle (Combat Syndicaliste), the french anarchosyndicalist newspaper made a quick interview :

CS : Why do you occupy this building ?

CNT : we have decided to occupy when we heard that the old Bourse du travail would be sold to a private person. Even in our time where everything is merchandise to sell (from the minimum means of subsistence to the individuals themselves), the sale of this place is fraught with symbols.

The CNT AIT can’t pass it up . The Bourse du Travail is a public place since the 19th century and above all it is a piece of social patrimony. Do we have to remind the people of the central piece that the Bourse du Travail played in the building of the working class conscience: their role was to get together workers from all the industries and to give them conscience of their dignity. It has been the CGT-SR office, before World War Two and after, at the Liberation, the CNT AIT office until 1993, when, after the Mayor’s manipulations we have been relocated in an unsafe place

CS : your occupation is obviously in the continuity of this history

CNT : For sure. In Bordeaux, we miss a great and free space. The Old Bourse can reply to this need. In more concrete terms, we want this building to develop a genuine and offensive anarchosyndicalism, but also to share this place with all the people, union or other organizations which want to develop the human emancipation in the respect of the direct democracy principles. We want to make the old Bourse a place of ultural excitement, a place of struggle against the Bosses Attack Plans against workers, for a better way of life, ... and at last to re-give to this building its role of Popular University, in a time when the Single Thought ruins any reflection and hope for all those who think another world is possible.

CS : what are the difficulties you have faced ?

CNT : The buyer is doing everything possible to get us out. Some "supporters", who told they would help us in fact let us down, and some politicians came to try to exploit the project. We "kindly" asked them to leave ... And, last but not least, the local newspaper almost "killed" us, we are asking now for a right of reply.

CS : [at the date of this interview] it is the 21st day of occupation. Where are you now ?

CNT : we are more determined than never. Just this morning, the building’s buyer came with the police, intending to cut the electricity. But their actions strengthen us in our project. More and more people, from various origins, come to meet us, participate to the general assemblies, two times per week. Our cultural, social, and struggle project begin to meet people’s liking. We are occupying night and day and various activities are organised : music, neighbourhood meals, public talks, conferences, exhibitions ...

As we said, our project, as symbolised by the occupation of the Old Bourse du Travail, is based on the individual emancipation and on a concept of the building as a solidarity place, which unites all those - women and men - who have only their work force to sell. We are realizing that many people can share this project with us.

All those who share those ideas don’t have to hesitate and we invite them to come to the Old Bourse du Travail to talk. They will be welcome. The more we will be, in figures and determination, the more we will stand good chances of success!

For any support, you can write them

Any messages of solidarity are welcomed!

Share and spread this message, thanks. Translation in any language welcome.

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