The collection relates to a number of Trade Unions in South Africa, amongst others the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). Other trade unions represented are the Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers' Union of S.A., Metal and Allied Workers' Union, National Automobile and Allied Workers' Union, Paper, Wood and Allied Workers' Union, South African Railway and Harbour Workers' Union, Sweet Food and Allied Workers' Union and Transport and General Workers' Union.

The initial part of the collection contains material which had been rescued from Khotso House after the bomb blast in August 1988. In 2012 the larger part of the collection was received and incorporated.