Ontario colleges and striking faculty members will return to bargaining Thursday.

A mediator called both parties back to the table Wednesday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Labour.

"This strike has gone on for too long. We need to end the strike and get our students and faculty back in the classroom," said Sonia Del Missier, chair of the College Employer Council bargaining team in a statement released Wednesday. "We can reach a settlement quickly and have classes start again early next week."

Classes for a half-million students, including those at St. Clair and Lambton College have been cancelled since the strike began October 16.