High school teachers are going into facilitated bargaining with the Government - but they're still planning strike action.
That will see the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) run the pay talks between the two parties - which remain at an impasse.
PPTA Te Wehengarua acting president Chris Abercrombie said the Government has only made one offer in 11 months of negotiations.
"Facilitation will continue the negotiating process and we hope that having an independent person in the room will be helpful," said Abercrombie.
Facilitated bargaining only happens when negotiations come to a standstill and the process allows the ERA to make recommendations on what a deal should look like.
But those recommendations are not binding and strike action can continue while bargaining takes place.
Secondary teachers have already announced plans for more industrial action from next week and the PPTA has told Newshub those plans remain in place.
From next Monday, PPTA members will not attend meetings outside school hours.
In the second week of term two, they will put in place a plan to roster different year levels home on various days for four weeks.
Rolling strikes will be held in the week beginning May 8, where teachers will strike on different days in different regions.
They will also continue to refuse to give up their scheduled planning and marking time to relieve for absent teachers or positions that are vacant.
Secondary teachers have already staged two nationwide strikes this year.
About 20,000 PPTA members went on strike on March 29 and also took part in a 'mega-strike' with primary teachers on March 16.
Abercrombie said PPTA looked forward to receiving more details soon about the facilitated bargaining, including timing.
"We have a shortage of secondary teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand that is worsening every week. We need pay rates that at least keep up with inflation so teachers' pay doesn't go backwards," he said.
In March, Education Minister Jan Tinetti, a former principal, conceded working conditions and pay for teachers are "not good enough".
Tinetti told AM at the time that she "absolutely understands" the issues teachers are facing, adding "it's not good enough, which is why we're trying to address it".
