Built at the end of the 19th century in Ville-Gozet on the initiative of Mayor Jean Dormoy, the town hall was to become “a true house of the people”, as the elected official wished. Symbol of the industrial and social history of the city, it is now occupied by the CGT, which is its tenant. A tradition that the municipal executive would like to overturn.
“harmful consequences”
“The town hall still has the project to expel the CGT from the house of unions (the other name of the building, ed) ? “, the left-wing city councilor Magalie Ferreira-Neves, also an activist of the CGT, rose to the niche, during the city council on Thursday. Many trade unionists also participated in the public session.
“Contesting the presence of the CGT in the union house would have harmful consequences for this organization and for all employees of the Montluçon basin”, he believes, recalling that the town hall had already put an end to free loads in municipal premises made available to unions in 2016.
“This municipal building belongs to the city”
“This municipal building belongs to the city of Montluçon, not to the CGT, nor to the workers, says Mayor Frédéric Laporte (LR) for his part. We want to recover it to renew it and return it to the population. »
No specific project exists at the moment for this building located near the Saint-Paul church. “Initially we wanted to put the digital campus there, but the implementation would have taken too much time. We need cultural projects, projects aimed at young people, in a left bank neighborhood where we are less and less present”, says the mayor.
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CGT’s move under discussion
The elected official says discussions are underway to find a basis for the union. “We are looking for a location that can match their wishes. We would like to create a trade union house, to bring together all trade union organisations. No date has been set for the transfer of the CGT, according to the mayor.
“The municipal building has always been occupied by the CGT, it is an insult to the history of Montluçon and to the memory of Jean Dormoy, who was not elected by 11.5% of the voters (registered on the electoral roll, ed.)” , judge for his part Pierre Mothet, echoing the score of Frédéric Laporte’s list in the last municipal elections.
Guillaume Bellavoine
