Inexcusable for the center manager to treat the driver what way in front of his peers, and in my old Center most of the drivers would have been shouting right back at him. In the steward's defense, not everyone is good at confrontation especially in front of a crowd. I remember a meeting years ago where I was represented by a non-Driver steward who really did nothing but sit there while the manager and I went at it. Afterward he remarked that he wished he could be that way with Management. I said it's a skill you develop over time and have to know when to turn it off and on. It's best to match the managers attitude, tone, and volume. Removing your fear of termination is the hardest part, but I'd rather go out fighting than like a sheep to slaughter. Perhaps this steward hasn't developed those skills (and it's really up to the individual to do so), or the center manager's outburst caught him off guard. Some stewards I've worked with are never going to be good at such kinds of altercations, but they are very valuable in other ways.
