It is a division of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia.

It was formed in 1992 as a standalone Union following the merger of the Australian Postal and Telecommunications Union and the Australian Telecommunications Employees Association/Australian Telephone and Phonogram Officers Association.

At the time of the merger the union had a membership of approximately 85,000.

[1]: 36  In 1993 it absorbed the Telecommunications Officers Association (TOA).

The CWU amalgamated with the ETU and PPTEU to form the CEPU in 1994, thereafter becoming a division of the larger union.