TORONTO - Thousands of support workers at Ontario's colleges will cast their vote Thursday on whether to strike just days before classes are slated to begin.

The agreement between OPSEU and the province's 24 community colleges expires at the end of August.

That's about a week before 200,000 students return to school.

OPSEU negotiators are seeking a strike mandate, which gives the union the option of calling a strike without going to members for another vote.

Support workers include everyone from computer support staff to janitors to lab technicians.

Results are expected Friday.