It was going so well: The Seattle Times’ unions approving pay and benefits cutbacks checked off right down the line, first the Newspaper Guild, then the composers (printers), followed by the Graphics workers (they run the press and big color cameras), and Teamster truck drivers and mailers. Then came the handful of people who keep the Times’ assorted machinery in gear – the 11-member unit of the International Association of Machinists – grinding things to a halt.The Newspaper Guild’s Liz Brown [name corrected] says IAM District Lodge No. 160, Local 79, turned down an agreement that would have extended their contract if they agreed to give up double-time holiday pay, forego half their normal vacation accrual, take four-week furloughs over the next two years and accept wage cuts of 6.5 percent. It’s not clear what happens next, other than the Times and IAM will continue to negotiate. IAM’s contract expires Aug. 31. Even without the approval, the concessions by the other unions should put the Times on better financial footing, and stave off the shutdown of its print edition.