The Le Monde staff is backing a new plan from the paper's management, thus ending more than a month of chaos at the distinguished French newspaper, the Guardian reported Thursday.

Employees voted 81 to one, with seven abstentions, in favour of the measures to minimise compulsory redundancies and to expand the deadlines for staff to take a voluntary redundancy until June 30.

The new plan replaces the management's old plan to cut 129 jobs, which included 87 newsroom staff, the Guardian reported.

“It's a compromise, but it is acceptable enough that we can sit down together and work on the leaving conditions (of staff),” said Christaine Chombeau, staff representative, according to the Guardian.

According to a joint statement from trade unions and management, the two groups will together “evaluate the savings made by these departures.” If forced redundancies do happen in the future, they will likely take place in September, instead of July, and there is a guarantee that no one will be forced out during the summer.

“This is a good agreement as it safeguards the interests of employees and helps the company to improve its economic situation,” said Eric Fottorino, managing director of Le Monde, the Guardian reported.

Le Monde has been experiencing financial difficulties in recent years. The paper had a daily circulation of around 398,000 in 2003, but dropped to 358,000 copies within 2007. The paper lost €20 million in 2007, with an accumulated loss of €150 million, the Guardian reported.