Reporters, editors, photographers and support staff at The Chronicle Herald have a new contract.

The 84 Halifax Typographical Union members voted nearly 95 per cent in favour of a four-year deal Monday.

According to a release from the union, the contract provides for wage increases of two per cent in each year.

"I think this agreement is fair and reasonable and from today’s ratification vote, it is clear the membership agrees," said union president Stephen Forest in the release.

Starting salaries for new hires at the provincial newspaper will be slightly lower than at present, the union said.

The company dropped its demand to introduce a community weeklies reporter classification that would have paid salaries less than half of what current reporters earn, according to the release.

The workers had been without a contract since November.