NSW police felt they had to escort former Prime Minister John Howard through a boisterous protest of Union workers opposed to the Fair Work Commission's (FWC) decision to cut Sunday penalty rates.

"We're workers, united, we'll never be defeated!" chanted the protesters while holding up Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) banners.  Mr. Howard had just exited a conference on Pitt Street and walked into the CFMEU demonstration, one of a number of rallies in major cities around the nation on Thursday to protest the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), cuts to penalty rates and reduced job security.  The former PM apparently did not expect the crowd to be as large as it was.

A quartet of uniformed police officers and a man in a suit then came to Howard's "rescue", navigating him through the mass of his fellow Australians as their chants began to include boos and jeers, with at least extending his one middle finger while yelling an f-bomb.  Iron John didn't appear phased by it at all and kept his composure.

But PM Malcolm Turnbull jumped on it, accusing the CFMEU in a tweet of "thuggish" behavior, which the union denied. 

"John Howard walked into the Sydney rally today that was part of the National Day of Action by unions protesting against the ABCC and cuts to penalty rates.  The rally was peaceful, but loud," the CFMEU said in a statement.  "From the footage we have seen, it appears some protesters made their views known to Mr. Howard about anti-worker laws he introduced while Prime Minister as a result of which, he lost an election and his seat."