This original enameled lapel pin was issued by the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) of Iraq during the Ba’athist regime under Saddam Hussein. The pin features a prominent gear-and-flag motif overlaying a green map of the Arab world, representing both Iraqi labor strength and pan-Arab unity. Below, the acronym “G.F.T.U. – IRAQ” is clearly inscribed in English, signaling both domestic and international affiliation.

Founded in 1969, the GFTU was the only officially sanctioned trade union organization under Saddam’s rule and functioned primarily as an arm of the state. Its purpose extended beyond traditional labor representation—it also served to monitor workers’ loyalty to the Ba’ath Party and ensure political conformity within industrial sectors. The inclusion of Ba’athist symbolism and revolutionary slogans reflects this dual role of both worker representation and ideological enforcement.

Worn by union delegates, industrial overseers, and regime-affiliated labor representatives, this pin is a rare artifact from the highly centralized and politicized labor apparatus of Saddam-era Iraq. Items like this capture the fusion of propaganda, industry, and authoritarian control during the late 20th-century Ba’athist regime.

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