Union marches shut down the centres of major cities this week.

Workers took to the streets nationwide in response to a perceived attack by the Federal Government.

The chant, “they say cutback we say fight back,” was heard across capital cities.

The most recent flag of things to come is the government’s Productivity Commission review of workplace relations, which unions say will lead to penalty rate cuts and unfair conditions.

Teachers, nurses, fire-fighters, electricians and other government staff from joined unionised workers from a range of industries.

Many worked for state government departments whose federal funding is at risk.

But the March 4 march has been criticised for its incoherence.

It certainly displayed a kaleidoscope of concerns for everything from funding cuts, state asset privatisation, workplace rights changes and even education standards.

The recently-revived Fair Work Building and Construction - formerly known as the ABCC – said it was willing to hand out $10,200 fines if workers attended the protest without permission from their employers.

Speaking to the angry masses in Melbourne, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary David Oliver tried to play to the full range of issues

“Today the union movement teamed up with the community to get a very loud and clear message to this Government that we will not stand by and let Tony Abbott take our country in the wrong direction,” he said.

“We will not stand by and once again see workers' rights at work being attacked. We will not stand by and see the living standards being eroded in this country.”