Had my opinion on his character already not been colored by his past actions I may be more inclined to accept that explanation.
I went into this with the view that he's a dick already.
So even if I didn't believe solidarity was even more important in the face of potential reprisal I wouldn't be very inclined to charitably read any of his actions.
It is two things:
I genuinely consider his position to be a moral failing
Even if all this were not going on I would want to see him fired because I hate him (though on principal never as retaliation because solidarity, even for people you hate; his position as worker would in that scenario outclass personal animosity)