“The pattern bargaining strategy has been a very effective approach for U.A.W. and its members to secure economic gains,” Rory Gamble, the U.A.W. vice president who led the talks with Ford, said in a statement.

In a statement, Ford confirmed an agreement had been reached on a new four-year contract.

The contract, if approved by a council of union local leaders, will go to a ratification vote by the 55,000 workers at the company who are represented by the U.A.W.

“These were long and hard hours, but I feel confident they were able to secure a contract that protects our member’s future,” said Gary Jones, the U.A.W. president.

The union’s contract with Ford expired Sept. 14 but workers have continued to report for work while the U.A.W. leaders focused their efforts on bargaining with G.M.

Union workers walked off the job at G.M. on Sept. 16 and stayed on strike for nearly six weeks, shutting down G.M.’s 34 factories in the United States and others in Canada and Mexico. Workers ratified the new contract with G.M. last week.