Unions Press Oaktree to Prevent L.A. Times Sale to Koch Brothers

Labor groups are putting pressure on Tribune Co.’s largest shareholder to prevent the possible sale of the Los Angeles Times to billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch.

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO plans a protest next week outside the downtown offices of Oaktree Capital Group LLC co-founder Bruce Karsh, who is also chairman of Tribune, owner of the Times. The group seeks to prevent a sale to Wichita, Kansas-based Koch Industries Inc., one of the largest privately held companies in the world. It cited the brothers’ efforts to weaken worker bargaining rights.