If Nick wouldn't have been so busy helping DT scapegoat line-crew as the cause of industrial problems in the past, he might have seen that Flight Ops Management have 'always' abused position and priveledge to the detriment of 'the bottom line' AND crew morale.
I think what the crews are actually hacked off about Nick, are the systemic forces that ask them to carry the burden of guilt for the corruption and manipulation going on 'above' them at the managerial level.
Get a handle on that and you'll see where your morale problems are.