EO Media Group looking to sell company amid layoffs at The Bulletin and Redmond Spokesman, union says

(Update: Adding video, comments from union)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Unionized workers at The Bulletin have spent this week at the negotiating table with Eastern Oregon Media to discuss plans for the company's upcoming layoffs.

News Channel 21 learned new information from the union regarding EO Media Group, saying the company is deciding to sell the entire group. We reached out to Publisher Heidi Wright to confirm these details, but have not heard back.

"What they have told us is that they're looking to sell to somebody who will take the company as a full unit. So that would be all of EO Media Group and Central Oregon Media Group together," union bargainer Morgan Owen, a general assignment reporter at The Bulletin, said Wednesday.

The company recently announced that a 15% staff reduction is needed as they experience a drop in advertising revenues while operating expenses continue to skyrocket.

The Bulletin also will combine its Saturday and Sunday print editions, to publish on Saturday, and will drop from seven to five e-editions per week. Five other rural newspapers owned by EO Media will suspend print operations entirely.

The union says after four negotiation meetings, EO Media Group will still be going forward with layoffs, requiring one reporter and one full-time photographer to be let go. Only employees who volunteer for the layoff will receive severance, something the union is still fighting against.

"We were able to negotiate some severance for whoever might volunteer. And they are sticking to the fact that only people who volunteer are eligible for severance," Owen said.

Central Oregon News Guild has created a petition to preserve The Bulletin, which currently has 90 signatures.