ðə jˈuːniən wʌz fˈaʊndᵻd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti θɹˈiː, æz ɐ splˈɪt fɹʌmðə noːɹwˈiːdʒən jˈuːniən ʌv dʒˈɛnɚɹəl wˈɜːkɚz, ænd ɪɾ ɪmˈiːdɪətli ɐfˈɪlɪˌeɪɾᵻd tə ðə noːɹwˈiːdʒən kənfˌɛdɚɹˈeɪʃən ʌv tɹˈeɪd jˈuːniənz.
The union was founded in 1923, as a split from the Norwegian Union of General Workers, and it immediately affiliated to the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions.