Postmedia is moving a dozen of its community newspapers in Alberta to online-only formats, a move that is expected to result in an unspecified number of layoffs at the company.

The decision was one of several cost-cutting plans that were announced to staff in an internal memo circulated late Wednesday. A spokesperson for Postmedia confirmed the plan for its community papers, but did not offer further comment or any clarity as to how many jobs would be impacted.

A statement from Unifor, which represents media workers at several Postmedia-owned newspapers, also did not provide more information about how many layoffs were expected, but said it was “looking at all options to protect media workers.”

“This is a massive hit to local news,” Randy Kitt, director of Unifor’s media sector, said in the statement. “The media sector – with barebones newsrooms and constant cost-cutting – needs more stability, not less. We need more support and legislation from the federal government to support journalists and news organizations, so they can keep telling quality, fact-based stories of Canadians.”

Though the memo did not specify which papers would be making the move, a dozen newspapers’ websites posted notices to readers informing them of the move. They include the Airdrie Echo, Vermillion Standard, Cold Lake Sun, Peace Country News, Drayton Valley Western Review, Hanna Herald, Pincher Creek Echo, Bow Valley Crag and Canyon, Whitecourt Star, Leduc County Market, Cochrane Times and Fort McMurray Today.

Postmedia reiterated its commitment to cost-cutting initiatives last week when it released its Q1 financial results, which showed a $15.9 million net loss, more than triple what it reported in the same period the year prior. The company said compensation, distribution and production costs were all down in the quarter, though the cost of newsprint and other operating expenses has gone up slightly. Among the cost-cutting initiatives it undertook in the quarter was to stop printing Monday editions for nine of its major daily newspapers.

In its memo to staff, Postmedia outlined other efforts to bring down expenses, such as selling the Calgary Herald building after several years on the market and outsourcing more of its printing operations. Hiring a new printer would allow Postmedia to put a building it owns in Saskwatchewan up for sale; when combined with sub-leasing a property in Regina, this would result in all staff in the province working fully from home.