A legal battle is looming over primary teacher pay deals.

The NZEI's taking action over the Government letting non-union teachers accept individual pay offers.

The Public Service Commissioner yesterday confirmed boards can directly approach about 10,000 teachers, after the union’s rejected three recent pay deals.

Lead negotiator Liam Rutherford says they're frustrated and angry about the timing.

"This is a break from decades of tradition, where we settled the collective agreement and then teachers that aren't members of the union get that passed on through an IEA."

LISTEN ABOVE

• Public Service Commissioner defends move to offer non-union teachers pay rises
• "Fair and reasonable": Education Minister defends pay offer for non-union primary teachers
• Primary teachers holding back as principals strike pay deal