ANTIGONISH, N.S. -- The president of St. Francis Xavier University says the Nova Scotia school can't "reasonably accept" a contract counter offer from its striking faculty.

In a news release Sean Riley says the union's proposals would add more than 700-thousand dollars to the university's latest offer tabled Tuesday.

Riley says the union's offer is well beyond the university's financial capability and would threaten both short-term and long-term stability.

He says the administration stands by its latest four-year offer which would increase salaries 1.5 per cent for two years, then by two per cent in the third year and 2.25 per cent in the final year.

On its website the union says Riley's news release is a "deeply cynical action" that obstructs the path to a new agreement.

Talks are ongoing between the two sides as the strike by 400 faculty and other academic staff is into its eleventh day.