He suggested that G.M. precipitated a 17-day strike at two brake factories in Dayton, Ohio, in March by not living up to agreements to protect jobs.

By early Saturday afternoon, a rainbow sea of workers' cars and trucks surrounded the yellow brick walls of the main brake factory in Dayton, Ohio.

Both sides claimed victory in the agreement, which was reached on Thursday and approved this morning by close to 3,200 striking brake factory workers.

A 17-day walkout last March at two brake factories in Dayton, Ohio, forced G.M. to lay off 176,000 workers across North America.

By comparison, a 1996 strike at the two brake factories in Dayton, Ohio, lasted only 17 days but prevented G.M. from producing 180,000 cars and light trucks.

Daniel Warrell, the manager of the two brake factories here, said that he planned to reopen the factories on Friday afternoon and begin producing brakes immediately.

When the brake factories here reopen, Mr. Warrell, the plant manager, said the first brakes manufactured would go to plants G.M. wants to restart quickly.

The strike at two brake factories here has forced G.M. to close 24 of its 29 assembly plants and dozens of parts factories across North America.

A 17-day strike last March by workers at two brake factories in Dayton, Ohio, forced G.M. to lay off 176,000 workers temporarily.

A strike at the brake factories in Dayton alone would cripple G.M., just as one did for 17 days in 1996.