The secondary teachers union says the Government could save money by ending a pay parity arrangement with primary teachers.
Known as entrenchment, the system ensures primary teachers are offered any pay rises the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) wins for its members.
In its latest pay claim, the PPTA says it recognises the Government must be fiscally prudent.
The union says the Government this year has an opportunity to target funding to secondary schools and not agree to entrenchment with primary teachers.
Pay talks between the PPTA and the Ministry of Education have stalled and the union's members are set to strike within a fortnight.
Union members are seeking a pay rise of 4%. The ministry has offered a pay rise of 1.5% this year plus a further 1% next year, and says it needs to take account of pay parity with primary teachers.
The primary teachers' union, the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI), has negotiated entrenchment in each new collective agreement since 1998.
The Ministry of Education would not confirm its commitment to entrenchment on Monday, saying it cannot comment while bargaining with the PPTA is in process.
However, the ministry's workforce group manager, Fiona McTavish, says the cost of a 1% pay increase across the entire teaching sector is about $50 million a year.
