Three Maui News unions yesterday accepted a wage cut in a three-year pact with Maui Publishing Co., the newspaper's owner.

The unions said members were accepting a 10 percent cut in wages in recognition of severely depressed economic conditions. The ratification vote involved members of The Hawaii Newspaper Guild, The Honolulu Typographical Union and the Graphic Communications Conference/International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The agreement will provide Maui Publishing Co. and its owners, Ogden Newspapers Inc., with substantial cost reductions. More than 90 percent of the union members supported ratification.

The members also agreed to allow Maui Publishing to freeze its defined benefit pension plan and set up a new retirement plan to which the company will contribute but will not manage.

Members will also pay 5 percent of their medical insurance premiums. The company will continue to fully pay for dental insurance. The agreement provides for most of the 10 percent cut to be restored over a three-year span.