More than 10,000 workers have downed tools across Australia to march through major capital cities in protest over the federal takeover of the CFMEU.

Some 5000 Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union members gathered outside Melbourne’s Trades Hall as a rally got under way in the union’s home town on Tuesday morning.

Wielding signs such as “Hands off the CFMEU” while dressed in high-vis and work gear, protesters waved union flags as they shut down parts of the CBD.

“When I say union, you say power,” they chanted.

The protesters risked being fined by the industrial watchdog if they abandoned work to take part in rallies, as the action was unprotected.

Victorian Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas said he hadn’t tried to caution workers against going ahead, saying that was an employer’s responsibility.

“We would urge people to get back to work as soon as possible,” he said at state parliament on Tuesday.

“What they shouldn’t do is take action that is unlawful.”

In Sydney, more than 5000 union members shut down parts of the city, as well as entry to the NSW Parliament, shouting “union power” and “f— Albo”. They marched from Hyde Park to the NSW Parliament in Macquarie Street.

Deposed state secretary Darren Greenfield, who is defending corruption charges in a NSW court, attacked the peak trade union body, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and its leader.

“Sally McManus is a sellout,” he said as boos rang out.

“We pay her to look after us and she sold us out for the Labor Party.”

In Brisbane, up to 5000 protesters flooded the CBD’s Queen’s Gardens, prompting authorities to close Elizabeth, George and William streets.

As the rallies on the east coast ended, thousands more workers were gathering in Forrest Place, in downtown Perth, for their own march.

Forrest Place full of high vis and union flags as tradies rally to show support for the CFMEU #perthnews #wanews @6PR pic.twitter.com/9ZU2rQCmVg

— Anne Barclay (@anne_naylor) August 27, 2024

Marchers in Brisbane were addressed by federal Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather, who told them the government had established a blueprint on how to seize control of a civil movement or union.

“Labor has used these untested allegations to attack an entire union,” he said.

“You will be dismissed as radicals … but it’s not radical to believe that a construction worker should be afforded a fair trial like a CEO, banker or a politician.

“The real radicals are the Labor and Liberal politicians on untested allegations who are doing this as judge, jury and executioner.”

Electrical Trades Union leaders also spoke at the marches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Queensland ETU secretary Peter Ong told protesters the Labor Party was not the union movement.

“This is the union, comrades,” he said, gesturing to the large crowd.

“This is not an attack on the CFMEU, this is an attack on the trade union movement … from what we thought was our own.”

In Melbourne, ETU state secretary Troy Gray said the size of the crowd reflected workers both inside and outside the CFMEU.

Maritime Union national secretary Paddy Crumlin spoke in Sydney, dubbing the government’s action a “massive busting up of unions”.

“This is an attack on every working man and woman,” he said.

A Fair Work Ombudsman spokesperson said if a site worker failed to turn up or walked off the job without permission on Tuesday, it could be a contravention of workplace laws.

Earlier on Tuesday, federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers urged protesters to be peaceful despite their opposition to developments of the past week.

-with AAP