It was established in 1970 and is affiliated with SWAPO, Namibia's ruling political party.

The NUNW was originally established as a general workers union in April 1970 through a resolution of the 1969/70 South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) party congress in Tanzania.

[2] In 1978, the NUNW affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions (WTFU).

[1]: 22  From 1986, various industrial unions were established inside Namibia under the umbrella of the NUNW and in 1989, a consolidation congress took place that merged the exiled and internal wings of the NUNW into a unified federation.

[2] In October 2009 the NUNW affiliated to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), thus effectively withdrawing from the WFTU.