Academic staff at the University of New Brunswick are on strike after talks failed to produce a deal with the school.

Classes at the university’s Saint John and Fredericton campuses were suspended Monday after talks broke down late Sunday evening.

Miriam Jones, president of the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers, says a last-ditch attempt to resolve a dispute over salaries and workload failed even after the group modified its proposal.

Both the faculty and administration say they remain very far apart on the issue of wages.

“Oh, for sure we’re far apart,” Jones tells CTV News. “But what’s worse is that they have no intention of talking.”

Jones says the university didn't budge on compensation and reversed some commitments it previously made.

"They don't seem interested in negotiating," she says. "It's almost like they're welcoming this situation."

The faculty union is seeking a wage increase of about 23.5 per cent over four years, in addition to a 5.6 per cent increase in the first year.

The administration is offering a 9.5 per cent wage increase over four years.

“We’re really at an impasse,” says university president Eddy Campbell. “It’s not clear what we could accomplish at the bargaining table at this moment and time.”

The union represents over 1,000 full-time and contract academic staff, librarians and researchers. Their contract expired June 30.

Jones says members are looking to be treated the same as their peers, adding that staff are up to 48 per cent behind salaries at other schools.

The strike is affecting more than 9,000 students and some are worried about how the labour dispute will affect their studies.

“It’s my fourth year so I’m concerned if it’s going to affect by graduation,” says student Danfeng Ian.

“My main concern would be extending the school period, taking in our summer break and March break if it lasts too long,” says student Joseph Cormier.

Campbell says any disruption that lasts longer than four weeks could threaten the term, but nursing students say they have even less time than that.

“Our term is condensed, so, instead of 16 weeks, we only do eight,” says nursing student Chelsey McAlerr.

“So, if the strike goes longer than two weeks, it actually pushes our graduation and we lose spots.”

Campbell says the two sides are continuing to negotiate but Jones says she isn’t aware of any planned talks.

She said they had also received a notice that they would be locked out as of Tuesday.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore and The Canadian Press