When the Australian Education Union announced this Thursday's two-hour strike, parents braced for yet another disruption.
Nobody likes a sudden school closure, particularly working families, but Canberra's teachers have not taken this action lightly.
Education Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith herself has acknowledged this.
She said teaching conditions dictated student learning conditions, and thanked educators who shared their classroom experiences.
This was a welcome departure from the overtly hostile rhetoric that governments often deploy against public servants during industrial disputes.
Teachers do face significantly more pressure than their predecessors. Social media, artificial intelligence and increased violence in schools - both student-on-student and against staff - have escalated daily challenges.
A bulging curriculum and an administrative workload that expands relentlessly hasn't helped either.
The daily reality involves managing complex behavioural issues, navigating rapid technological changes and fulfilling endless reporting requirements.
The Australian Education Union's ACT branch council unanimously rejected the government's updated pay and conditions.
However, union branch president Angela Burroughs noted the government's latest approach contained positive developments.
She said installing a lead negotiator with actual teaching experience accelerated recent progress, suggesting the government finally listened to feedback.
Despite this, the union has foreshadowed further rolling stoppages.
They have warned of another full-day strike late in term four if the government fails to address specific workload concerns.
After teachers walked off the job for a full day in June - their first such action in 15 years - the community understands the union has the resolve to follow through.
The minister extended an olive branch on the eve of the dispute.
She stated her government shared a commitment to reaching an outcome that delivered for students, public school teachers and staff alike. For a relatively new education minister, this enterprise agreement dispute is a crucial early test of leadership.
The community hopes both parties will continue to negotiate in good faith. Canberrans want the government and the union to demonstrate a willingness to meet in the middle.
A swift and fair resolution will allow educators to get on with the job of delivering the highest possible standard of public education for students across the territory.
