The Union was formed in 1962 as the Natal Provincial Association, organizing in the health sector with the purpose of representing and defending the workers in dispute resolution. Natal is the current Kwazulu Natal which was then known as natal during the apartheid era the Union was then changed to Natal Provincial Union of South Africa, The Union was started by a group of health workers in the public sector as one first truly racially integrated union. Its membership was initially to hospital workers employed by the province.

It then extended to include other workers employed and provincially and nationally by other public sector departments. In 2003 it adopted the current name National Public Service Workers Union (NPSWU)

1. It was formed in 1962 because some workers realized that:
(a) Their working conditions were severe.
(b) There was pay disparity between them and their white colleagues.
(c) They were summarily dismissed without undergoing any formal processes.

1.1 (a) They realized that as the collective they will have strength to bargain and they spread the gospel among the Indians, colored and Africans to form an association.
1.1 (b) They then registered their association as Natal Provincial Association and recruited members around Natal

2. The founding first leaders of the Union are as follows:
Ronnie Jonson (President)
N.A. Sixishe (Vice President)
Laly Genason (General Secretary)
Egbal Khan (Member of Executive Committee)

3. The National federation is (NACTU) National Council of Trade Union and (PSI) which is Public Service International

4. It represents both Public Sector and Private Sector and mostly public sector orientated, the gender representation is 40% Male and 60% Females

5. It is improving the working condition and Socio-Economic condition of the members by representing it members by winning 95% of its cases. At all legal forums and negotiations better salary increments and better working condition as well as strong campaigns or class issues e.g. social security justice, health education xenophobia violence against women and children.

6. The union was involved in very serious strike actions and various campaigns and Marches, collectively with other unions during 70s 80s and 90s to fight inequality and discrimination in the work and arched there assisted dismantling apartheid and in the new dispensation.

7. The national congress of august 2014 where the currently leadership was elected in Durban, it was very exciting to meet the members from all Provinces media performance and the program on its own, catering was of high quality, member were well dressed and the staff members NPSWU were the working together showing unit in their team.

8. Improving the living condition of the society and dealing with poverty alleviation and job creation.