The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, Communications Workers of America Local 32035 ratified a four-year labor contract with The Baltimore Sun Co. last night, agreeing to raises averaging 2.5 percent over the life of the agreement.

Under the contract, no Guild employee will earn less than $321 a week. Seven separate pay groups -- from messengers to photo technicians -- were upgraded to higher pay classifications.

"I'm delighted," said Sun publisher Michael E. Waller, moments after the vote. "I think it's a fair deal for employees and a fair deal for The Sun."

A voice vote by about 400 of the Guild's 575 members endorsed the proposed contract after all but one of the union's nine negotiators recommended it. The proposal, which included a signing bonus of a week's salary if approved last night, took effect at midnight.