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Talks between Ontario colleges and striking faculty dissolved Monday with both sides accusing the other of prolonging a dispute that is in its fourth week.

In the meantime, students at 24 colleges across the province have no indication of when they might be back in class.

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Premier Kathleen Wynne and Deb Matthews, the minister responsible for post-secondary education, had asked for both sides to get back to bargaining and reach a deal.

But four days after talks resumed, the two sides emerged sniping at each other, with no immediate resolution in sight.

The Employer Council that bargains for the colleges said it wants faculty to vote on the offer it presented Monday. It has asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board to organize a vote, which could take five to 10 days.

It said in a statement that the union should suspend the strike during that time, allowing students to return to classes.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) replied that it would not “suspend” the strike, which would mean asking union members to cross their own picket lines, said J.P. Hornick, the chief bargainer.