HALSEY, Ore. -- Union leaders say they hope workers at a former Pope & Talbot pulp mill in Halsey may be back on the job next week.

Pope & Talbot is liquidating its assets under bankruptcy procedures. One of its big creditors, Ableco Finance LLC of New York, bought the Halsey mill at auction on Tuesday.

The mill south of Albany employs 180.

Its boiler room supplies water, steam and compressed air went to a neighboring Georgia Pacific paper mill. But the rest of the Halsey mill has been shut down since May 9.

The United Steelworkers represents most of the workers. A representative, Ernie Lamoureux, says bargainers are close to an agreement, and he hopes the mill will be running next week.