Johnny767, Rainboe, Will Fraser; there are Pursers/No1s/CSDs out there who are loyal and believe in the captainīs final say and final responsibility.
And who get punished for exactly that.
I know of a case, in a well known airline, where 3 CSDs were suspended by the cabin crew department during an investigation and later received a disciplinary. For not opposing their respective captains when they broke a rule.
A rule that is broken by captains every and day company wide because it is silly and impractical.
The captains were not suspended by the pilot department because the chief pilot knows that his captains break that particular rule every day, because he agrees that the rule is daft and because he knows the company is in the process of changing the rule to fit the practice.
3 CSDS suspended for a week, 3 CSDs with a disciplinary in their file for believing in the chain of command, for believing that the captain knows best and for simply sticking with their captains. All because their cabin crew department is having a crack down regarding the rules, and sends it stooges out among the crews to snitch.
3 captains completely unaffected career wise, but going to bat for their CSDs.
Without any effect whatsoever.
The captain is the boss yes, but apparently only as long as that suits the employer.