[1][2] The federation strongly opposed the apartheid system, and affiliated to both the National Forum Committee and the United Democratic Front.
[1] In 1982, it sought to organise mine workers, and so established the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
[4] In contrast to many of its rivals, CUSA did not lay out any specific approach for affiliates to use in negotiating on pay and conditions; for example, some chose to join industrial councils, while others boycotted them.
[3] The NUM left in 1985, to join the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).
In response, CUSA opened negotiations with the Azanian Confederation of Trade Unions (AZACTU).