Unions go door-knocking to criticise govt

Unions are targeting more than 20 marginal federal electorates in a national doorknock to highlight what they say are the Abbott government's failings.

The ACTU campaign, which the union says will be its biggest doorknock, follows the government's two-year anniversary.

The union says the milestone serves only to highlight the government's "abysmal" performance during that period.

It says its members will be "talking up" Australian jobs, health and education, public services and the prospect of a secure retirement - something it has accused the prime minister of failing to act on.

In a statement, the ACTU has singled out issues around penalty rates, the minimum wage, unfair dismissal laws, higher education fees, and cuts to both the public sector workforce and health and education funding as key points of the doorknock.

ACTU president Ged Kearney says the campaign is crucial in the fight for living standards and the future.

"Workers and their families will fight any move to cut rights at work, jobs, health and education," she said.

"If the Abbott government wants to make these election issues - we say bring it on."

The next federal election is not due until late 2016.