Gallery: North Sea oil and gas workers on the picket line

North Sea workers have captured images of their offshore picket lines as they take part in the biggest stoppage in a generation.

Unite Offshore has shared several photos on social media of crews downing tools on a number of oil and gas installations in the region.

All in all, around 1,300 workers across dozens of platforms have staged walkouts.

Images of offshore picket lines have flooded in.

It is claimed numerous operators will be impacted, including BP, CNR International, EnQuest, Harbour Energy, Shell and Taqa.

Trade body Offshore Energies UK says its focus is on ensuring continuity of production, despite the reduced staffing offshore.

Despite claims from Unite the strikes could bring installations to a standstill, some operators have said they don’t expect any impact on production.

Workers staging walkouts include electrical, production and mechanical technicians, deck crew, scaffolders, crane operators, pipefitters, platers and riggers.

They are employed by companies including Bilfinger UK, Petrofac, Stork and Sparrows.

The striking oil workers seek an increase in wages and an improvement in their working conditions.

They point to the record-breaking profits reported in the energy sector as the reason why now is the time to make demands.

Why are they striking?

A Stork worker on the Buzzard platform said: “We’re striking because of the cost-of-living crisis.”

Unite the Union regional officer Vic Fraser explained that despite the commonly held belief offshore oil and gas workers get paid “movie star wages”, conditions and rates of pay have “eroded” in recent years.

Mr Fraser said: “Over the last decade terms and conditions have stagnated and eroded – and they have had enough.

“Our members are looking for an increase in their basic rate of pay, an improved rota and a return to some of the terms and conditions they have lost over the last 10 years.”