Very quickly, the nascent union movement in Morcenx-Gare found its place here. The Bourse Hall welcomed the working population and its union struggles, particularly during the tapping crises of the early 20th century. It was at the heart of strikes and congresses that attempted to improve the working conditions of tappers: on September 21-22, 1906, the 32 existing unions united; in 1934, the Federation of Sharecroppers and Tappers of the Southwest was created. Its headquarters in Morcenx were initially located at the Café Divan, now the bakery. As early as 1938, it was granted premises in the Stock Exchange. This federation of unions was not able to combat the arrival of white spirit on the markets...
Further struggles followed, linked to the closure of the Arjuzanx thermal power plant. They are responsible for the construction of a monument located on the Arjuzanx site, the Trois Flamboyantes. It commemorates the events linked to the operation of this power plant and its demolition, with the creation of the Inertam factory intended to inert the deadly asbestos into cofalit.
It retains its vocation as a place of work, as indicated by the notices affixed to its façade and the existence of a large work and archive room for the Morcenais trade union movement. Its name, Salle de la Bourse, has been retained to make it a place of remembrance, as evidenced by the plaques affixed to the building's entrance. They pay tribute, one to Charles Prat, who took up the cause of the sharecroppers and tappers who fought from the major strikes of the early 20th century until 1969; another to the workers of the Centrale who died from asbestos. Finally, how can we forget Gaston Biremon, who died at the age of 32 during the Second World War and whose memory has been rehabilitated.
There are also two beautiful wrought iron gates decorated with Ms that previously adorned the door of the Salle de la Bourse before its renovation for safety.
Times have changed. The rotunda offers a meeting room available for political groups. The very active community can hold its general meetings there. The two adjoining rooms host offices, including those of CARSAT, CIAS, and Veterans Affairs.