Members of the Newspaper Guild at the St. Paul Pioneer Press voted Friday to go down to a 37.5-hour work week and take an unpaid week of furlough in exchange for a no-layoff agreement.

The Guild also agreed other concessions, including to forgo a previously negotiated 3 percent pay hike that was to go into effect in July. In total, the union agreed to about a 10 percent pay cut, which the company estimates will save between $1 million and $2 million annually.

The Pioneer Press was prepared to lay off up to 26 employees, including members of the newsroom. The newspaper reports layoff protections will last until early February 2011.

The paper begins formal negotiations with other unions next week. The Guild represents about 270 people at the paper, including members of the newsroom.