The NZEI says kindergarten teacher pay talks will be watched closely by primary teachers.
Negotiations are due to begin on Thursday afternoon and the union says they will be a test of the Government's commitment to pay parity.
Radio New Zealand's education correspondent says kindergarten teachers are paid on the same level as primary and secondary teachers who have the same qualfications.
The NZEI says it's not had any signs so far from the Government that it's committed to pay parity between the sectors.
National secretary Paul Goulter says the union is also keenly aware of the current climate of Government fiscal constraint and is extremely concerned about how that might affect the pay talks.
He says kindergarten teachers fought hard to establish pay parity in the first place and it is the most important issue for them.
