YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Workers began a strike against General Motors on Monday after America's biggest carmaker failed to reach a deal over pay and conditions with the United Auto Workers union (UAW), BBC reported.

Almost 50,000 workers are due to take part in the strike, the first major stoppage at GM since 2007.

“We do not take this lightly. This is our last resort”, UAW vice-president Terry Dittes told reporters in Detroit.

The sides had set a Saturday night deadline to reach an agreement.

Mr Dittes said: “We are standing up for fair wages, we are standing up for affordable, quality health care. We are standing up for our share of the profits”.

GM argues that its wages and benefits are among the best in the industry. The carmaker said in a statement that its offer to the UAW during talks included more than $7bn in new investments, more jobs, and pay and benefits increases. “We have negotiated in good faith and with a sense of urgency”, GM said.