Faculty and staff at Rutgers University are set to strike for a second day as contract negotiations continue.

University and union leaders have been in a closed-door meeting at the State House in Trenton – at the request of Gov. Phil Murphy.

“If we don’t get a resolution, there are many losers – including the many, many thousands of students who go to Rutgers,” Murphy said.

There are nearly 70,000 Rutgers students across three campuses. Some showed up to class on Monday with no professor. It comes as finals approach.

"My professors haven't really reached out. I’m kind of shocked that my classes are canceled because it's like the most intensive part of the semester,” one student told News 12.

Unions representing nearly 10,000 professors made their voices heard on campus on Monday through a march and rally. They're fighting for better pay, benefits, job security and to improve the pay gap between part-time and full-time faculty.

“We need raises for all of our members that don’t kill us during this time of historic inflation. We have demands for our undergrad students in the communities where we work,” said Todd Wolfson, vice president of AAUP-AFT.

The talks have been ongoing for almost a year. Wolfson says both sides remain far apart.

University officials say that the school has made offers during more than 100 bargaining sessions.

Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway has expressed frustrations that a deal has not been made. He was not seen at the negotiations Monday night.

The governor was in the meetings for a bit but left later in the evening.