Unions fear trade deal still risks jobs

Unions will continue to campaign against a China trade deal, unconvinced a potential agreement between Labor and the federal government will protect Australian jobs.

ACTU President Ged Kearney has told ABC radio she is worried the deal could see employers give jobs to foreign workers without checking the Australian market first.

Ms Kearney says unions will go ahead with planned town hall meetings.

Labor backbencher Kelvin Thomson, who is on a parliamentary committee examining the trade pact, said the deal should be blocked unless more safeguards are added.

"If the government are not prepared to entertain those proposals then I don't think the treaty should be ratified because I think the dangers to Australian workers are too great," he told ABC radio.

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek distanced herself from the union campaign, telling reporters it was a matter for the labour movement.