The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) says it will work with its labour federation counterparts in Nigeria and Ghana to influence decisions in the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development. Cosatu said that joining forces with the other two unions would strengthen the labour movement in Africa's regional powerhouse economies. This will ensure that the plight of workers and the poor remain key to the agenda of regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community and the Economic Community Of West African States.