National Federation of Trade Guilds

The National Federation of Trade Guilds (NFTG) is the national trade union center of the Republic of Lathadu. It is one of the largest trade unions in the world, being composed of every member of each of Lathadu's labor syndicates. The NFTG is divided into several smaller regional federations, meant to increase local autonomy and promote bottom-up solutions to economic issues. The NFTG is the nexus of its legally mandated trade unions, with which all major syndicates must be affiliated. There has been some dispute as to whether the NFTG is an independent trade syndicate or even a true syndicate at all. It directs a public college, the National University for Labor Relations.

History
The Federation was officially founded in the Spring of 1825, when the "Second National Guild Conference" of Lathadu convened in Ushteyghoo with 277 delegates representing thousands of workers. The conference members adopted the Constitution of the National Federation of Trade Guilds, which remains in effect to this day. Between 1825 and 1830, the organization flourished, as did its control over the wider trade union movement. Lathadu's labor movement had grown enormously, particularly in the countryside, but also had some organizational success in its budding urban centers. The NFTG was restricted heavily and then banned by the government of Lanshad Teige, seeing it as a rival power in league with the growing Anti-Aristocrat movement. Many NFTG leaders were captured and even executed, with Teige attempting to replace them with yellow unions loyal to him.

By the rise of Carmac Kneale in 1871, the NFTG was established as Lathadu's sole national labor union center. However, Kneale butted heads with the NFTG on numerous occasions of its perceived creation of "bad trusts" in certain industries. Combined with Kneale's preference of independent revolutionary committees, tensions remained between the two for the duration of Kneale's tenure. Following the end of Kneale's tenure, the NFTG found much more support among his successors. Since 1925, it has been regulated by the Trade Union Law of the Republic of Lathadu. One of the most far-reaching effects of the 1925 law is that it removed soldiers' unions from the NFTG's jurisdiction. According to a 2001 study, the NFTG has been accused of prioritizing the interests of business over the interests of labor in certain sectors, and has lost legitimacy in the eyes of many laborers in the country.

In 2016, the 191st Annual Convention of the National Federation of Trade Guilds was held in the Hall of Labor in Calleebane. At the convention, union leadership faced growing pressure to act less as a mediator between workers and management and more as a genuine voice for workers. This pressure arose both internally and was also applied by the government of Alden Quayle.

Purpose
According to the Federation's constitution, "The National Federation of Trade Guilds is a mass organization of the working class led by its elected representatives and a voluntary union of employees. It serves as a bridge and link between the state and the masses of workers, an important social pillar of state power, and a representative of the interests of its members and workers."

Organization
The NFTG primarily consists of the six "Great Syndicates" which are subdivided into smaller ones. These include
 * Syndicate for Agricultural and Fisheries (Farmer's Guild, Lumberman's Guild, Fisherman's Guild, Rancher's Guild)
 * Syndicate for Mining and Mineral Extraction (Metal Mine Workers Industrial Union, Coal Mine Workers Industrial Union, Oil and Natural Gas Workers Industrial Union)
 * Syndicate for Construction (General Construction Workers Union, Building Construction Workers Union, Shipwrights Guild)
 * Syndicate for Manufacturing and General Production (Machinists Guild, Weaver and Tanners Guild, Foodstuffs Workers Union, Energy and Chemical Workers Union, Ceramics and Pulp Paper Guilds)
 * Syndicate for Transportation and Communication (Rail Workers Union, Navigator's Guild, Airman's Union, Occupational Motorists Union, Printer and Writers Syndicate, Communications Workers Union, Municipal Workers Union)
 * Syndicate for Public Service (Doctors Guild, Teachers Guild, Barristers Guild, Park and Highway Maintenance Workers Union, Personal Service Workers Union)