Bellingham Technical College workers end strike, vote no confidence

Contact: Alex Pieke-Dahl, best.btc@outlook.com, or Rich Wood, 253-376-1007

Bellingham Technical College workers narrowly approve contract, end strike

Union members vote NO CONFIDENCE in BTC administration

Striking support staff at Bellingham Technical College have approved a new contract. They are ending their four-day strike, which began Sept. 25.

Members of the Bellingham Educational Support Team (BEST) union sought a modest pay increase to keep up with the rising cost of health care and other living expenses.

After voting to ratify the college’s latest contract offer, union members overwhelmingly voted NO CONFIDENCE in BTC President Kim Perry, Vice President Chad Stiteler and Executive Director of Human Resources Camille Gatza.

“BTC’s current administration is disconnected from staff and students, and the administration’s increasingly authoritarian approach to decision-making and employee relations has added to the tension and discontent within our college,” the motion read, in part.

BEST represents office staff, technical workers and other support employees who work with students at BTC.

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