Multiple sources have said that the agreement includes 200 buyouts and 300-400 layoffs. Employees also are being offered eight-hour shifts and five-day workweeks, sources said.

This vote comes after meetings between Goodyear representatives and union representatives, who have agreed that the company’s recent furloughs have not done enough to reduce huge inventories.

The vote also follows an announcement from Goodyear on Wednesday that the company would be cutting 5,000 jobs after fourth-quarter sales earnings from 2008 plummeted 21%.

Goodyear spokesman Keith Price verified Wednesday the company’s proposed job cuts could impact 400 hourly workers at its plant in Danville.

“We have a tentative agreement with the union in Danville,” Price said. “If they ratify in Danville, it would impact 400 jobs in Danville. These 400 would be hourly union jobs.”

Jo Andrews, spokeswoman for the Danville plant, said she could not release specific details about the agreement.

“I’m not confirming details of the agreement,” Andrews said Wednesday afternoon, adding the local plant made a pact with the union not to release details of the proposal.

She said the vote should be finished by late tonight with results released Friday.

Delegate Don Merricks, R-Pittsylvania County, issued a statement Wednesday and said he is concerned that Goodyear’s announcement to reduce its work force by 5,000 will have a highly negative impact on the region that already is looking at some of the highest unemployment rates in Virginia.

“The announcement of Goodyear to eliminate 5,000 jobs within its work force is of great concern for the Danville/Pittsylvania County area,” Merricks said. “Although details are sketchy at this time, and we do not know the impact this decision will have on our local plant, it is imperative that we as leaders do everything possible to assist those that may be affected by this decision. I will be in contact with the Governor’s Office to offer my assistance of any kind.”

Goodyear is the city’s largest employer with nearly 2,400 workers. (Tire Review/Akron)