Protesters around Australia have spoken out against federal government policies, from health and education to workplace relations and defence.
In 15 rallies, thousands of union members and workers vowed to unite and fight to protect their rights.
Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Dave Oliver joined more than 5000 people in Melbourne for a march through the city centre, shutting down some of the city's busiest streets.
Crowds shouted anti-Liberal Party slogans, declaring their voices would be heard in the workplace, in the community and at the ballot box.
"We don't want them to attack our living standards, and we don't want them to attack our rights at work," Mr Oliver told reporters.
A major city street was shut down in Sydney as close to 10,000 people rallied outside Parliament House.
The impact of combined the state and federal government workplace relations agenda drew more people than expected, according to Unions NSW secretary Mark Lennon.
"It all leads back to one thing - an attack on people's living standards through cuts to wages or cuts to services or privatisation of assets," he told AAP.
About 500 unionists took part in Canberra, standing firm in opposition to higher university fees.
National Tertiary Education Union national president Jeannie Rea told AAP she thought the bill would be rejected in the Senate next week.
In the spirit of the day, shipbuilders took to the streets outside Defence Minister Kevin Andrews' Melbourne office seeking to save Australian shipbuilding jobs.
Australian Maritime Workers Union national assistant secretary Glenn Thompson joined about 150 workers trying to get a delegation of workers to meet the minister.
They're seeking to have programs, including Anzac frigate construction, fast-tracked and the reopening of domestic tender processes as recommended by the Senate.
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