Trade workers are threatening three days of strikes after walking off the job in Melbourne and Sydney to protest against the federal government's decision to force the CFMEU's construction arm into administration.

In short:

Tens of thousands of workers have attended rallies in Sydney and Melbourne to protest the forced administration of the construction division of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU).

A senior Victorian union figure has threatened an additional 72 hours of strikes.

What’s next?

The federal government is planning a meeting next month between unions, government and businesses, in a bid to reset in the wake of the CFMEU scandal.