Members of the Hawaii Newspaper and Printing Trades Council, which represents six unions at The Honolulu Advertiser, approved the switch to a new health insurance provider and change to a biweekly pay plan, it was announced last night.

Wayne Cahill, council spokesman, said members on Sunday voted 83 percent in favor of the changes.

The unions approved the switch from HMSA to Summerlin Life & Health Insurance Co. Cahill called Summerlin's benefits "equal to or better than HMSA."

The Advertiser will be paying its employees every two weeks rather than weekly under the memorandum of understanding approved by the unions.

Negotiations on a new contract are continuing. The previous two-year contract expired in June.