City streets were brought to a gridlock at lunchtime.
Police closed the roads around St Stephens roundabout to make way for the marchers.
Traffic backed up around the inner ring road, Chapelfield and Theatre Street.
Families coming into Norwich on the Ipswich Road were also delayed as police closed the northbound lane as a mass of flags and banners from unions including PCS, NASUWT, Unite and UNISON marched towards the centre.
But Norwich airport escaped relatively unscathed from the UK Border Agency strike.
Buses were reported to be busier this morning with families making the most of a day off work.
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