VANCOUVER, Wash. — Classified staff at Vancouver Public Schools have voted to authorize a strike after the union and school district failed to reach an agreement on a new contract .

On Thursday night, 80% of the Vancouver Association of Educational Support Professionals (VAESP) voted to authorize a strike. The strike itself won't begin immediately, as both sides will continue mediation Friday; the strike date, if that happens, is currently not set.

The latest contract expired on Aug. 31, but the union, which represents more than 800 classified staff — paraeducators, clerks, secretaries, technology support specialists, Braillists and American Sign Language interpreters — said it has been in negotiations since April.

VAESP said their goal is to guarantee better conditions in the distric

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