THE University & College Union (UCU) abandoned the second day of its annual conference yesterday after nearly 200 of its staff represented by Unite went on strike.

Unite members protested at their employer’s working practices outside the Bournemouth International Centre, accusing the UCU of structural racism, failures to rebuild industrial relations and an “unreasonable” approach to negotiations, which are understood to involve a return to office working.

Unite regional officer Rose Keeping said: “The UCU’s undermining of existing industrial recognition agreements, failure to agree key working principles and heavy-handed use of disciplinary procedures have left our members with little choice but to take strike action.”

The UCU said its management put forward proposals in talks mediated by arbitration service Acas on Friday, with further clarifications and concessions at another meeting this week.

“It is disappointing that the full details of these concessions were not put directly to Unite members for their consideration,” a UCU spokeswoman said.

“We remain committed to further negotiations and to finding agreed solutions which address their concerns.”