The 2011 popular uprising failed to provide the marginalized labour force in Syria with democratic and just representative bodies to defend their interest against the regime’s hegemony and instrumentalization of exiting unions and corporatist organisations. Against this background, this paper aims at forming a basic understanding of the dynamics leading to sidelining trade unions in Syria from their mandated role. The paper explores Syria’s trade unions’ history since inception and examines the political and economic developments that shaped its operational environment up until today. It also analyses the roles and functions assigned to trade unions in Syria, pre and post 2011, with focus on the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU). Finally, the paper looks at forms of labour dissent in regime-held areas and the emergence of alternative forms of labour organisations in territories outside the domination of Damascus.