The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) was the largest union federation in Iraq in the first half of the 2000s and, under Decree No. 16 in January 2004, the only one recognized by the Iraqi government. This, along with the organization's alliance with Ayad Allawi's transitional government, many other labor organizations distrusted and criticized the IFTU. In 2005, IFTU claimed 12 national unions and over 200,000 members, though it merged with three other union federations to form the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (also known as the Iraqi Workers' Federation) in 2006. History The IFTU was formed in May 2003 at a conference in Baghdad by 400 union activists who had recently resumed their lives in Iraq after a period of hiding or exile. This occurred after Saddam Hussein was overthrown as the president of Iraq. The organization has roots in the Saddam-era and Ba'ath Party-supported General Federation of Trade Unions and an earlier group also called the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions. The historical IFTU was headed by al-Qadir al-Ayash and Aram Khashadur in the late 1950s, was associated with the Iraqi Communist Party, and was legally affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions. They supported democratic elections, secularism, and accountable leaders and opposed privatization. By late 2005, IFTU represented supporters of former prime minister Ayad Allawi and some Arab nationalists, though was still largely aligned with the Iraqi Communist Party. American occupation of Iraq The IFTU were very critical of American occupation in Iraq; despite this, they were often criticized by other federations for being too supportive of it. Their mixed messaging may have been due to the fact that transitional prime minister Ayad Allawi, who was selected for the role by American occupation officials, had a strong alliance with the IFTU and often showed them favor, including by making them the only governmentally-recognized labor federation in the country. In 2005, US Labor Against the War (USLAW), a non-governmental, anti-war organization, invited representatives from the IFTU, the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq, and the General Union of Oil Employees to speak with a number of Americans opposed to foreign occupation of Iraq. At the end of their tour, USLAW and the union groups made a collective statement in opposition of the privatization of Iraq's economy that came as a consequence of the occupation. However, the IFTU was quick to clarify that they did