A union representing 56 support staff members at Bellingham Technical College has voted to strike, joining the faculty union  in a work stoppage that has halted the beginning of fall classes at the college.

BTC’s classified clerical, technical, instructional and retail support staff are represented by the Bellingham Education Support Team.

Joint-bargaining sessions between the staff union and college administrators began in May and continued until Sept.12, when the parties asked state mediators to assist the talks, according to BTC. Negotiations with the mediators began on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

The college’s faculty union, the Bellingham Education Association, declared its strike on Tuesday, Sept. 24, after its negotiations on contract terms with the college failed to reach an agreement.

Faculty members have set up a website (www.btcfacultyvoice.org) offering further details on their contract requests.

College officials are also posting updates online as developments continue.

Evan Marczynski, staff reporter for The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.