I may be wrong, but my sense is that tonight's Machinists vote will be a helluva lot closer than the first. I'd say a majority of machinists want to vote no, though fear of losing their jobs may dissuade a majority from doing so. This contract is better than the one they rejected, so should it be approved there's some legitimate face-saving to be found in that. But few people are going to be leaving the union hall tonight happy.

Still, I'd just like to remind our region's political and media elite that whatever happens tonight, this isn't about you! These are union workers voting to approve or reject a contract for their own jobs based on what they believe to be best for themselves and their families. And most importantly, if their jobs are ultimately moved out of state it is Boeing who is moving them, not the Machinists union! No doubt you hope that the Machinists accept this humiliating contract offer, because that is what you perceive to be best for you. But again, this is not about you. It's about them. So shut the fuck up with your anti-labor recriminations.

Just sayin'.