Aye Leadie,
I met a few 'heirarchy' like that in my times with the Dept.
Fortunately, time marches on, and, in due course, so did they.....
.A cuppla 'tiin hitlers' from the services, who failed to recognise that the ATC /FS were NOT 'the services' and we did not have to salute the quarter deck, nor ask permission to 'come aboard' or whatever, when starting our shift......I'm glad the the union was able to set things straight for your man.
Pathetic - wasn't it....??
.
Cheers