[3] The federation worked closely with the World Confederation of Labour, but did not affiliate.

Instead, in 1998, it affiliated to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, and has continued membership of its successor, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

[3] In 2006, it began negotiating a merger with the rival National Council of Trade Unions.

They formed an umbrella organisation, the South African Confederation of Trade Unions, in 2007, but it achieved little, and the two federations remained independent.

In 2015, it advised its public sector affiliates to accept a pay rise lower than that offered, in order to reduce government expenditure.