Jan. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Bankrupt Tribune Co.’s Los Angeles Times, the fourth-largest U.S. newspaper by circulation, plans to cut more jobs by March to help reduce costs, according to a letter sent to the press operators’ union.

“Time is of the essence and the company intends to implement the cutbacks no later than March 15,” Russ Newton, senior vice president of operations, said in the letter. “The pressroom will be impacted by this decision.”

The Los Angeles Times fired 235 workers in July and August and 75 more in October. Tribune declared bankruptcy Dec. 8, less than a year after billionaire Sam Zell took the publisher private in a deal that saddled it with debt.

“We are always seeking ways to operate more efficiently,” Los Angeles Times spokeswoman Nancy Sullivan said by telephone today. She declined to specify how many press-operator jobs the newspaper will eliminate.

In the letter, dated Jan. 19, the newspaper said it wants to meet with union representatives as soon as Jan. 26 to discuss the job cuts. Sullivan said she didn’t know how many employees were represented by the union.

Union local President Ronnie Pineda didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Greg Bensinger in New York at gbensinger1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 20, 2009 19:05 EST