[2] At the national level, the newly merged Union became part of the Profintern.
Although losing members by the end of 1923, it still had the strongest voice in Ruhr region mining council elections in 1924.
The Union's membership contained different sorts of radicals, many of whom were undisciplined,[3] and caused problems for the more disciplined KPD.
The KPD, seeking to advance the class struggle, wanted to establish revolutionary unions to displace the Christian and liberal unions' position of power in the workplace.
Members withdrew and joined the ADGB and by the end of 1924, the Union was just over 20,000 strong; the following August, just 8,000 and faded from activity.