Angry construction workers chanting “hands off our jobs” have descended on Federation Square to ambush Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy at a press conference.

Members of the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining Energy Union banded together in Melbourne’s CBD on Tuesday to protest Mr Guy’s bid for premier, claiming he would impose mass job cuts if elected.

Construction worker Ange Dalessandro said the Liberal Party’s plans to scrap Premier Daniel Andrews’ proposed Suburban Rail Loop was just one example of a problematic campaign.

“We don’t believe in Matthew Guy, he’s no good for construction,” Mr Dalessandro said.

“He’s been around a while, he’s a recycled leader. He said it on numerous occasions he’s going to cut the Suburban Rail Loop [but] we’re looking forward to building the Suburban Rail Loop.”

He added that the multimillion-dollar project would create 8000 construction jobs under a re-elected Andrews government.

The CFMEU represents more than 30,000 construction workers across Victoria.

The protesters at times drowned out Mr Guy during his press conference to announce upgrades to Federation Square.

The Liberals promised to transform undecked railway land into brand new urban parkland and would cost upwards of $5 million.

Mr Guy brushed off the rowdy mob.

“Victoria has an opportunity to – and you can see that in today’s polls – to move on from this kind of fear, intimidation and division,” he said.

“This is just intimidation and division but that’s what Daniel Andrews has brought to Victoria.”

Polling conducted by Resolve Strategic for the Nine newspapers and released on Tuesday showed that the gap between the major parties had narrowed, ahead of Saturday’s election. Labor’s primary vote has fallen by 7 percentage points since the 2018 election to 36 per cent – making it level with the Coalition.

The latest poll also showed that the Coalition’s primary vote was up 5 percentage points from 31 per cent since Resolve’s last poll, conducted in late October. Labor’s primary vote, which was at 38 per cent, has dropped by 2 percentage points.

On two-party preferred terms, Labor remains ahead 53 to 47 per cent. The Age reported that was enough for Mr Andrews to remain Premier but significantly lower than the 59-to-41 split from late October.

Mr Andrews rejected Mr Guy’s assertion.

“I’m out here announcing 59,000 jobs and power that’s about people, not profit. I’m nowhere near Federation Square,” he said.

-with AAP