Goodyear’s Danville Plant to Lose 400 Staff

Following Goodyear’s announcement in its full-year report for 2008 that the company was to reduce its global workforce by 5,000 over the next year, CEO and chairman Robert J. Keegan stated in a conference call with analysts today (19 February 2009) that a tentative agreement had been reached with local Steelworker leadership at the manufacturer’s Danville, Virginia plant to cut capacity and the work force by 400 people. The agreement will be taken to a union vote today.

Vice mayor of the city T. Wayne Oakes said, “Any loss of jobs is serious. But what I think is important is that Goodyear is dedicated to remaining operational in Danville. They’re cutting back to survive, but they’re going to stay.” Goodyear contract coordinator and a staff representative with the Steelworkers in Gadsden, Alaska, Kevin Johnsen, said the Danville plant will vote on schedule changes in the part of the plant where truck tyres are made. “We always have concerns about companies laying off members and we’ll do everything that we can to protect our members,” Johnsen said. “Other than Danville, Goodyear has not come to us and said they are looking at this plant or that plant.” The plant, which makes aircraft and truck tyres, currently employs 2,400 and is Danville’s largest employer.