Jules Désiré Colombe

Jules Désiré Colombe (1859–1902) was a French blacksmith, known as leader of the labour exchange's creation in Nantes in 1892 and part of Limoges congress in 1895. A street and a cultural building hold his name in Nantes.

Biography Early life Jules Désiré Colombe was born in Bléville that is today part of Le Havre city, on 16th may 1859.

He established later in Nantes, as a blacksmith worker.

Member of Nantes municipal council He sat on the Nantes Municipal Council from 1888 to 1892. First a member of the French Workers' Party and close to , one of the founders of Nantes socialism, he is known to be a unity supporter.

Leader in the creation of the labour exchange (Bourse du travail) in Nantes He played a key role in the founding of the Nantes Bourse du Travail, for which he was the secretariat from its creation in 1892. This happens in historical context of federation of labour exchanges creation. On his proposal, three places were reserved for women on the General Council (Conseil général) in charge to vote the final bureau, and one place on the Executive Commission (Commission exécutive).

Secretary of national congress of French trade unions in 1894 In September 1894, a national congress was held at Nantes : it was attended by 21 Bourses (776 trade unions), 30 federations (682 trade unions), and 204 trade unions which sent their own delegates. He was part of the opposants to the political and union line of his party by voting for the organization of a general strike.

Member of Limoges Congress which created General Confederation of Labour The following year, in Limoges, a congress held after the union of workers' organizations achieved in Nantes. He was one of its national secretaries. Others former members of French Workers' Party were also present in Limoges, for instance : Édouard Treich, secretary of the Federation of Workers' Unions of Limoges (Fédération des syndicats ouvriers de Limoges), , miners in Carmaux mining company. The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) was founded in 1895, at the Congress of Limoges.

Later life In 1895, he left the Secretariat of the Nantes Bourse du travail and set up a small blacksmith's workshop with two partners.

Death and legacy He died in December 1902 at the age of 42.

He is buried in the Cemetery Miséricorde in Nantes.

His name was given to the street in which the second premises of the Nantes Bourse du travail were located.

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