Over 120 Jet fuel drivers, working out of three of the UK's major oil terminals, are on strike over punitive 20 per cent cuts in pay and terms and conditions.

The workers walked off the job at 5am this morning at the start of a seven-day strike that will see fuel supplies to Jet's 381 forecourts hit. Unite reports that tankers are not crossing the picket line. In Kingsbury, 12 Texaco trucks on run by Wincanton refused to cross the picket line to work and roughly four more trucks turned back. At Immingham, no truck crossed the picket line with at least seven turning around rather than enter the site.

A spokesperson for Unite said: "We commended the courage of the workers who are determined to stop Texas-based oil giant, ConocoPhillips, from forcing down their terms and conditions.

"With pre- tax profits in the billions and soaring by 35.7 per cent last year, ConocoPhilips could easily afford to pay the drivers' employer, Wincanton, a fair rate for the contract.

"According to the accounts for Conoco Philips Holding, profits before tax increased by £544,100,000 - a 35.7 per cent - from £1,524,500,000 to £2,068,500,000 in the 2010, the last available figures.

"Directors' remuneration has increased by £500,000 - or 41.7 per cent - from £1,200,000 in the same year."

Speaking from the picket line in Immingham, Unite national officer Matt Draper said: "This is another example of corporate greed destroying the livelihoods of ordinary people.

"ConocoPhilips makes billions in profits, they are simply beyond belief. Yet their greed knows no end. They could easily afford to pay Wincanton a fair rate for the job, in turn stopping these grasping assaults on workers' pay.

"Behind me Jet trucks are standing idle. It won't be long before supply at the pumps is hit. Conoco Phillips cannot wash their hands of this - their greed is directly hitting supply. Consumers will know where the blame lies and that is firmly in their boardroom.

"Our members are determined to defend their livelihoods. The drivers will be out for 24 hours for seven days until a fair resolution can be reached."

However, Wincanton are 'perplexed' at the decision to go on strike.

Chris Kingshott, Wincanton’s Managing Director for Manufacturing said: "We do not understand why this strike is happening.

"We have always had the same objective as our drivers – to extend the current contract and provide them with job security.

"Wincanton’s tanker drivers are among the best rewarded in the UK, with average total earnings of £45,000 per annum, core working hours of 37 per week, premium overtime arrangements and a large percentage with a final salary pension.

"We started exploratory discussions with our drivers in June 2011 to establish how we could move to more flexible terms and conditions in order to deliver a market-competitive service to our customer and secure an extension of the contract when it expires.

"There was never any question that Wincanton would implement new terms and conditions without mutual agreement. These discussions were derailed by Unite, who forced a ballot for industrial action.

"Wincanton has confirmed to Unite that in the event of a tender process on the contract, we will fully comply with all legislative aspects of TUPE regulations to protect our employees’ terms and conditions. Unite seems determined that this assurance must come from the customer, but as Wincanton is the employer, TUPE law will be applied.

"This strike, which we believe to be wholly unnecessary, could create significant disruption for road-users and fuel retailers. As the biggest UK-owned transport and logistics company, Wincanton has done everything within its power to avoid this threatened strike and has made the relevant contingency plans to minimise the impact.

"Despite the claims of Unite press releases about the “greed” of oil giants, contractors, and retailers, it must be remembered that margins within distribution and on the forecourt are slim. This has put pressure on the current fuels distribution model to remain competitive, and has led the retailers to seek additional revenue from convenience stores.

"Unite’s picture of today’s UK fuel market is inaccurate and misleading.

"We are disappointed that Unite has engineered this dispute to suit a wider agenda and created issues when the contract wasn’t even out to tender. This irresponsible action could now jeopardise the security of the contract and ultimately the jobs of our drivers."