Is it possible for folks to cut the "YOU'RE AN ALPA STOOGE!" BS?

I commute and I have a 6 year old for whom I'm a single parent. I've been able to make it to one whole LEC meeting in 7 years. Any inkling of even considering ALPA work in the future was erased when I saw how disrespectful a handful of guys at the meeting were to the reps. I don't have issues w guys voicing their issues/complaints, but this was over the top. And that was the "in public" version of the relationship.