Mumbai: Workers at General Motors struck work today, marking the first time since 1984 that a contract breakdown has led to a strike at the world's largest automaker.

Reports earlier quoted a leader of the United Auto Workers Union at the Lansing, Michigan site, as saying the strike had begun around 11 am EDT, when a deadline set by the UAW to forge a new labor contract with GM came and went with no announcement of a deal.

Later reports indicated that plant employees in Flint and Warren, Michigan, were also leaving their facilities. A televised report showed a picket line in Warren.

GM confirmed the work stoppage and said it was disappointed with the UAW's decision to call a national strike.