A tentative agreement at an aluminum smelting plant has been reached, potentially ending a work stoppage affecting roughly 560 employees at the Century Aluminum facility in western Kentucky.

The Gleaner reports (http://bit.ly/1QKNMCP ) Allison Beck, acting director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, announced Tuesday that a tentative settlement has been reached in Hawesville between United Steelworkers Local 9423 and Century Aluminum.

A previous labor contract expired in April and was followed by contentious negotiations and a work stoppage in May.

The latest tentative agreement is subject to ratification by union membership.

According to a statement from the union, informational meetings will be held Thursday at the Lewisport Community Center. Voting will take place after each meeting.

Before the work stoppage in May, the union's membership rejected two previous tentative agreements.