TY - JOUR AB - This paper examines the problems involved in developing collective bargaining in the traditionally non‐union environment of the strategically important UK offshore oil industry. In doing so it provides evidence on the success of the “new”, stakeholder industrial relations environment established by the present UK government. Drawing on an in‐depth insight into management and union strategies gained from action research, the paper documents the attempt to establish a collective agreement and a partnership approach to industrial relations in the drilling sector of the North Sea offshore oil industry, a sector which has had no previous history of unionisation. In doing the research provides evidence partnership policy, the literature on union recognition and the process of negotiation in international organisations. VL - 25 IS - 6 SN - 0142-5455 DO - 10.1108/01425450310501324 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450310501324 AU - Martin Graeme AU - Pate Judy AU - Beaumont Phil AU - Murdoch Alan PY - 2003 Y1 - 2003/01/01 TI - The uncertain road to partnership: An action research perspective on “new industrial relations” in the UK offshore oil industry T2 - Employee Relations PB - MCB UP Ltd SP - 594 EP - 612 Y2 - 2024/04/19 ER -