[DoctorOetker]

> ...or people who have been elected by workers as their spokespersons

would this have been possible in the timeframe you experienced? since he felt the need to isolate you, indicates the boss knew the team respected your leadership, which generally indicates the team would have been willing to vote you as representative / spokesperson.

it might not have become the most pleasant job, but sometimes caesar must accept the crown unwillingly...

[Yoric]

I suppose it might have been a strategy but job protection was not my goal.