Custodians, educational assistants, early childhood educators and other support workers in Ontario’s public schools started a new heightened phase of job action Tuesday after negotiations over the weekend failed to produce a deal.

The new work to rule order instructs school custodians not to clean hallways or replace lights, tells library technicians not to attend training or train volunteers and says clerical workers should not handle any money or attend meetings outside paid time.

All classifications of workers are being asked to wear a “work to rule” wristband and display materials notifying others of the work to rule campaign. They’re also asked not to run errands or complete non-specific tasks from each school’s principal.

Educational assistants have been told to no longer supervise student detention sessions or participate in any fundraising activities or parent council meetings.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents 55,000 support workers in Ontario’s public and Catholic school systems.

CUPE school board workers chair Terri Preston told CP24 the union, the province and school boards have made some progress in negotiations, but a deal is still not within reach.

She said support workers in Ontario schools “don’t feel respected” by their employer. CUPE is asking the province and schoolboards for more time during the schoolday for workers to complete tasks many of them complete at home on unpaid time, such as preparing items for students with special needs.

“Our members are doing volunteer work in order to make sure schools work.”

She said that although custodians won’t be cleaning hallways, or changing lights, parents should know that they will still clean and fix things that pose a safety risk, such as a spill on the floor.

Support workers have been working without a contract since Aug. 2014. More bargaining dates have been scheduled, Preston said.

“If we could get (bargaining) dates tomorrow we would go back to the table.”