The bleeding isn’t stopping at the Chicago Tribune, as Crains Chicago Business reports that (via E&P) the paper told employees last week that the newsroom would lose another 20 percent of its staff. The news comes as the Labor Department has opened an inquiry into the way bankrupt parent The Tribune Company made use of the ESOP (employee stock option plan) as part of Sam Zell’s purchase of the publisher two years ago. The company sought bankruptcy protection back in December.

Across Tribune’s papers last year, the company cut about 800 jobs. As of August, its flagship paper had 480 newsroom staffers. The Chicago paper cut about a dozen staffers in early December and then cut another 20 two months ago. Meanwhile, the paper has been reorganizing its newsroom, including placing copy editing, page design, photo and related graphics into a single department. Earlier this year, Chicago Trib Publisher Tony Hunter said the paper would make hires in “emerging growth” areas.

• Labor Dept. Investigating Tribune Company’s Stock Ownership Plan
• Tribune Files For Ch. 11 Bankruptcy Protection; Cubs Not Included In Filing
• More Tribune Cost Cutting: Trib Eliminates 80 Newsroom Jobs; Baltimore Sun Cuts Biz Section