Contract talks have broken off between Brandon University and its faculty union.

Jim Forsythe, a professor at the university, and a spokesperson for the Brandon University Faculty Association (BUFA), said the university has not budged and the process has become extremely frustrating.

"Every proposal that comes forward, every effort that there is to come and meet them at some point towards deposition, it's just the answer 'no, no, no, no, no,'" he said.

"There was a concession on the part of the union and the employer took that into consideration and came back and said 'no.' No movement at all. It's just the same offer."

About 240 professors, instructors, librarians and professional associates from BUFA have been on strike since Oct. 12, following months of negotiations towards a new collective agreement.

About 3,000 students at the university, the province's third largest, have been affected by the strike.

The talks broke last Friday but both sides returned to the table with a conciliator on Monday. That conciliator has now returned to Winnipeg, Forsythe said on Wednesday.

Despite the frustration, morale on the picket line is high and there are hopes talks will resume on Thursday, he added.

Meanwhile, about 20 students plan to set up tents in the university courtyard to try and urge an end to the dispute.

The major sticking points in negotiations have been wages, benefits and research issues.

The university has contacted striking professors and opened the door to any that want to cross the picket lines and teach.

More than 25 per cent of faculty voted against the walkout and it's those who don't support the strike that the university said it is approaching.

Forsythe said he believes about three professors have returned and a handful of their students have followed.

The last collective agreement, which was signed following a 17-day strike in the fall of 2008, expired on March 31.