• by Sara Guaglione , February 12, 2016

Tribune Publishing is offering buyouts to union employees at Pioneer Press, the chain of 32 Chicago suburban newspapers it bought in 2014.

The Chicago Tribune reported Thursday that eligible employees have until Feb. 16 to take advantage of the buyout offers, which include “enhanced severance and extended health insurance benefits.”

However, not all who opt into the buyout may be accepted, according to the report.

In October, Tribune Publishing offered buyouts to its non-union employees, resulting in a 7% reduction in its workforce and 40 Chicago Tribune newsroom employees departing by the end of 2015.

The buyout offer was extended to union editorial employees of Pioneer Press, as well Lake County News-Sun and Northwest Indiana Post-Tribune at the request of the union, a source told The Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Tribune media blogger Robert Feder estimates this includes around 22 reporters and editors at Pioneer Press, who are represented by the Chicago News Guild.

In January, publisher and general manager of the Chicago Tribune Bob Fleck wrote a note to readers about Pioneer Press expanding its coverage of local news. “A lot has changed for us at Chicago Tribune and Pioneer Press in the last few months. Today, we’re bringing some changes home to you — with more on the way,” he wrote.

“Since buying the Pioneer Press weekly newspapers and Web sites in October, the Chicago Tribune Media Group has been working hard to bring all the teams together,” he added.

As Publishers Daily reported last week, Michael Ferro, the majority owner of the Chicago Sun-Times, purchased a 17% stake in the Chicago Tribune, its arch-rival in the Windy City.

The $44.4 million purchase makes Ferro the largest individual shareholder in Tribune, earning him a position as non-executive chairman on the Tribune board.

Tribune Publishing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.