Secondary teachers aren't backing down from their fight for better pay.

Thousands of teachers walked off the job today and picketed across the country. 

They say a proposed one percent pay rise is actually a cut in real terms - and concerns on staffing, professional development and support aren't addressed. 

PPTA President Chris Abercrombie says he hopes that'll be the end of action, and the Government will come to the table.

He says Minister Erica Stanford's signalled interest in improvement. 

"Erica's come out and said she wants a world-class education system, and we want the same. So there's definitely common ground there, but it's just about how we get to that space."

LISTEN ABOVE