St. Thomas University and its professors will return to the negotiating table Friday after breaking off contract talks in December.

The university locked out its professors on Dec. 27 after 10 months of negotiations that failed to produced a new contract.

"We met with the faculty association for several hours yesterday," Jeffery Carleton, spokesman for the Fredericton university, said Friday morning. "We've agreed to meet again today so negotiations will resume."

The liberal arts institution was able to inform students late Thursday that the two sides have returned to negotiations, Carleton said.

"We've told student we need to be in a position soon to make a decision on the resumption of classes," he said. "But we've also agreed with the faculty union to make these negotiations as productive as possible."

Carleton said both sides have agreed to a media blackout on the proceedings and no comment will be made on the substance of the negotiations until they are complete.

The faculty association is planning on holding a strike vote and general meeting on Friday afternoon.

Classes have been pushed back a week until Jan. 10.

The faculty union is asking for increased wages, more office space and a reduced workload.

According to the university's website, the faculty has been offered a reduced teaching load and a 2.5 per cent raise every year for the next three years.