Vancouver Public Schools’ support staff union will go on strike effective Friday if a contract deal is not reached this week.

By a vote of 93 percent, the Vancouver Association of Educational Support Professionals voted Tuesday to go on strike in light of continued disagreements over contract negotiations. About 500 people attended the general membership meeting at Fort Vancouver High School.

The decision comes a week earlier than previously intended by VAESP members, who voted last month that if a deal was not reached by Feb. 1, that they would take a strike vote. Lynn Davidson with the regional office of the Washington Education Association and lead spokeswoman for the VAESP said members are ready to take direct action now.

“We hope it puts pressure on them,” Davidson said. “That’s the whole deal.”

Vancouver Public Schools spokeswoman Pat Nuzzo said the district will evaluate whether or not schools can continue to open in light of the strike. Students in the district already missed four days of school in August and September after teachers and certificated staff went on strike.