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BOSTON Members of The Boston Globe's largest labor union decided Monday to accept a new contract that makes deep cuts to wages and benefits.

Monday's vote was be the second in two months for the Boston Newspaper Guild, which narrowly rejected a similar deal in June.

The Globe's owner, The New York Times Co., wanted $10 million in annual concessions from the union to improve the finances of the struggling newspaper. When the Guild rejected the first offer, the Times Co. instituted a 23 percent wage cut.

The new contract would cut salaries by 5.94 percent, compared with 8.3 percent in the previous proposal. Both contract proposals include unpaid furloughs, a pension freeze, a reduction in health care benefits and the elimination of roughly 190 lifetime job guarantees.

The vote was 366 to 179. "We deeply appreciate the sacrifices that guild members are making," said a Globe spokesman.

Guild President Daniel Totten said: "We hope that we can now work with prospective buyers to help the Boston Globe and boston.com to carry on with its vital mission to promote good journalism and protect free speech."

Globe Editor Marty Baron sent an memo, as follows.
____

To the staff:

I know how stressful the past several months have been for all of you. Still, despite the pressures and the tension, you have never wavered in your commitment to deliver journalism of the highest caliber.

I want to say thank you.

Thank you for the depth of your dedication. Thank you for your consummate professionalism, even in times of discord and difficulty. And thank you for demonstrating every day that the work of this organization holds powerful and enduring value in our community.

Marty