The rumored latest round of layoffs at the Chronicle commenced today with four positions in the classified advertising department being eliminated.

According to the Media Workers Guild, the positions' main duties were associated with handling paid obituary notices. Those job duties will now be handled by the Hearst-run operation in Houston.

Terminated employees were given two weeks' severance per year of service, and medical coverage for an equal number of weeks.

"The Guild is still seeking specific information about what other layoffs might be planned but was told that no more are expected this week," reported the Guild's Web site. "The company would not guarantee that, however."