The Prime Minister's keeping the door ajar for public servants to have step-based contracts - with automatic pay raises

Jacinda Ardern's this morning had talks with the Public Service Association - and Minister Chris Hipkins is sitting down with other public sector unions today.

There's been protest over the Government's plan to effectively freeze much of the sector's income.

Ardern says they're keen to work with unions.

She says while there are step-based progressions for large cohorts like nurses and teachers - that doesn't extend all the way through.