LCD: you are right that the safety culture is only as good as the integrity of those administering it, and in my experience cabin services managers can be unbelievably corrupt in such matters. I know of instances between flight ops managers and chief pilots being told that cabin services knew better on various matters of operation (as opposed to cabin management). CRM isn't something that happens only on the aeroplane, but should be a part of the company culture, particularly if a member of the operation has a safety concern or query. My advice to JSL assumed a higher level of integrity than might exist, and in the case of a system you can't trust I would agree that you should bypass the company system, and go direct to CHIRP or the CAA. If you have brought it up, and been rebuffed the trail is too obvious, as you correctly state.
JSL I hope you manage to either sort the problem out, or to live with it.