Sqwak,
I did not take SLS and watched as 97% of my colleagues did. Even after all the winging that went on at the AOA meetings I attended, the membership was looking for the AOA to tell us not to take it - but they cowered away and capitulated to the company's demands. That made everyone feel that there was no-one behind them as they stood on the frontline.
I too thought the GC should have recommended a 'NO', I can only imagine they were privy to more information than the membership or had a plan for the future.