It was closely linked with the Inkatha Freedom Party, and was opposed to the recently founded Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).
In particular, it opposed COSATU's call for an international boycott of South African goods.
[1] Most of its members worked in mining, but it established footholds in some factories, often promoted by management as a more moderate alternative to COSATU.
In 1991, former police officer Brian Morrow leaked documents proving state funding for the organisation, and journalist David Beresford published them.
[4] The scandal led to a great loss of support, but the union remained active until at least 1994.