School support staff will begin a work-to-rule campaign after weekend negotiations failed to reach a deal with the province and school boards.

News that talks had broken off between the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and the provincial government and trustee associations, came around Sunday dinnertime.

The job action by 55,000 caretakers, educational assistants, office staff and early childhood educators begins Monday and impacts most boards across Ontario.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement that “it is deeply disappointing that CUPE has decided to end talks this weekend, and proceed with a partial withdrawal of services, despite a limited number of outstanding items at the table.”

Both he and the trustees’ associations said the cost of absenteeism is a key issue.

Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, accused the government and boards of “pushing matters to the brink,” saying it was “within their power to reach a fair deal that protects services for students. But instead they chose to disrupt students’ education by refusing to see the deal that was there to be made.”

She told the Star the sides bargained for about eight hours on Saturday and nine on Sunday, and that the money the government would save is “minuscule” but would impact her members when they are ill or injured in violent incidents at school and need time off.

Any such cuts “would push some members into poverty at the lowest point in their lives,” she said.

Lecce said the province and boards “tabled a reasonable offer and expanded our offer through the negotiations with one interest in mind: landing a deal that keeps our kids in class. We have offered proposals to address compensation, job security and funding for additional staffing. A key issue that remains is resolving rising absenteeism rates, and the impact that has on students and schools.”

Despite the divide, Lecce said he is asking for more bargaining dates “to bring everyone back to the table so that we can ensure our kids remain in class. During this period of job action, student safety will remain the utmost priority — a position I know we all share.”

Walton said CUPE is willing to resume talks.

Negotiations with teacher unions are also set for this week.

Key issues for CUPE have been job security — its members have seen hundreds of job losses, or cutbacks to hours, as boards balanced their budgets for this school year — as well as benefits and wages.

The union has said the province was seeking too many “strips,” or concessions.

The Doug Ford government had previously announced it was capping public sector raises to one per cent a year.

The sides bargained for days last week and had returned to the table Saturday and Sunday, in the hopes of landing a deal before the planned job action. Their last work-to-rule was in 2015.

A government source told the Star the sides were not all that far apart by Sunday, and had “broad alignment” on things like job security and wages. However, the source said addressing absenteeism was the “big ask” by school boards.

Boards sent out letters late last week to parents to reassure that schools remain open, but warning the job action will have an impact.

While caretakers will still clean classrooms and washrooms, they will no longer clean hallways, offices or gyms or schoolyards, or take part in school compost or recycling programs.

Office staff have been instructed not to operate door buzzers. The Peel board initially told parents it would leave front doors open because administrators may be overwhelmed with work during the job action, but has since changed its mind.

Peel has also warned that “given this job action, some things you normally expect as part of the school experience may be affected. Schools may need to postpone or cancel programs, activities and/or events.

“We understand that this provincial labour situation is causing uncertainty and frustration for students, staff and families. Student safety is a key priority and we do everything we can to minimize the impact of job action on students and families. We are closely monitoring negotiations and hope all parties can reach fair, mutually agreeable agreements as quickly as possible.”

On Sunday, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association said it is “disappointed” and that “during the negotiations we responded in a responsible way to many of the demands put forward by CUPE including on benefits, job security and a renewal of funding for additional staffing.”

However, “school boards are concerned about the impact that current levels of absenteeism in our schools have on our students and classrooms. The current sick/short term disability leave plan allows access to 131 days of leave — 11 of these are payable at 100 per cent of salary and 120 are payable at 90 per cent of salary. In many boards, resources are being diverted from students and programs to pay for sick/short term disability leave costs.”

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The association said “on average, CUPE members take in excess of 15 days of sick/short term disability leave each year. We are seeking changes to this plan that we hope will reduce absenteeism levels. To date, CUPE has refused to agree to any changes to the plan.”

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association said “we are not proposing a reduction in the number of days (131) but only a modest alteration to the percentage of wages paid in the short-term disability leave when employees are absent from work. To date CUPE have refused to agree to any changes to the plan. We had hoped to avoid significant job action by CUPE.”

In a letter to school board trustees and directors of education, Lecce said, “I want to assure you that the proposals offered to CUPE have been reasonable and in the best interest of students across the province.”

He also said “during this period of job action, student safety will remain the utmost priority. I know this is a position we all share, and I expect that no CUPE member will ever undertake any action that would jeopardize the safety and security of any student in the province.”

On Friday, the Toronto Catholic board told parents that “every effort will be made to ensure that all elementary and secondary schools, daycare centres, before- and after-school programs and nutrition programs will continue to remain open as long as it is safe to do so.”

The Toronto public board said that during the job action, “principals and vice-principals will work together with staff to maintain a caring and positive school environment for students. As always, student safety and learning remain the top priorities of all TDSB staff. Our superintendents will be in daily contact with our schools during this time to assess any concerns that may arise.”

However, it warns that “as the partial withdrawal of services continues, it may have a more significant impact on school activities, permits and school operations.”

Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, said each board will be impacted differently by the job action.

“We would never leave students in an unsafe situation,” she said. “Schools will find ways to accommodate students coming into our schools.”

Walton said her members have been hit hard by cutbacks, leading to job losses but in many cases fewer hours that leaves kids — especially those this special needs — without the services they need.

They earn an average of $38,000 a year.

CUPE workers last staged a work-to-rule in 2015, and students were quick to post videos and photos to social media about dirty hallways and even mice.

The York Region District School Board is cancelling all community use permits in schools during the job action, as caretakers are needed after-hours.

“We regret the disappointment and disruption this will cause in our communities and remain hopeful that a provincial agreement can be reached soon,” it said in a statement to parents.

CUPE workers recently voted 93 per cent in favour of a strike.

The job action comes amid the federal election period, with federal Conservatives concerned that any labour strife associated with Ford’s Progressive Conservatives could taint Andrew Scheer’s candidates in the Oct. 21 election.