MLG HAS 2 HR DELAY DUE TO DISPUTE BTWN MAINT AND FLC OVER MEL ITEM.

Narrative

THE INBOUND FLT FROM GDL CAME IN WITH A MAINT BOOK WRITE- UP OF AN UNDER SEAT CARRY ON BAGGAGE RESTRAINING BAR BROKEN. THE BAR THAT WAS BROKEN WAS UNDER THE FIRST COACH ROW AISLE SEAT. MAINT ASSIGNED AN MEL TO COVER THE ITEM. HOWEVER; IN MY OPINION; THE MEL SPOKE ONLY TO AN INOP SEAT RECLINING SYS OR A MISSING SEAT BELT. THE MEL CALLED FOR THE SEAT NUMBER TO BE BLOCKED AND PLACARDED 'DO NOT OCCUPY.' I CALLED MAINT FOR CLARIFICATION THAT THE MEL DID IN FACT COVER THE MISSING BAGGAGE RESTRAINT BAR. I FELT A TREMENDOUS PRESSURE TO JUST ACCEPT THE MEL AS GIVEN AND GET ON MY WAY. IT TOOK CONSIDERABLE TIME TO RESOLVE MY QUESTION OVER THE MEL AND IT TOOK A REVIEW OF THE FARS TO FIND THE BAR WAS NOT REQUIRED AS LONG AS BAGGAGE WAS NOT PLACED UNDER THE SEAT. FINALLY; THE MEL CONDITIONS WERE WRITTEN TO STATE NO BAGS WERE TO BE PLACED UNDER THE SEAT AND THE SURROUNDING SEATS WERE BLOCKED TO PREVENT OCCUPANCY. HOWEVER; IN CRITICALLY LOOKING AT WHAT WAS DONE; I; AT THIS POINT; FEEL WE PRACTICALLY INVENTED A VERSION OF THE MEL SO I COULD JUST GET GOING. I DID NOT APPRECIATE THE PRESSURE THAT WAS PUT ON ME TO 'DON'T SWEAT THE DETAILS; JUST GET GOING.' IN FACT ON RETURN TO MY BASE; I GOT A THOROUGH CHEWING OUT FROM THE CHIEF PLT BECAUSE MY HESITANCY TO ACCEPT THE MEL RESULTED IN A 2 HR DELAY. I AM BEGINNING TO SEE AND FEEL; IN A VERY REAL WAY; THE INCREASING PRESSURES PUT ON CREWS TO 'JUST GET GOING ON TIME' IF IT IS NOT A 'KILLER' PROB. THE MARGIN OF SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY. THE SOLUTION TO THE PROB WOULD HAVE BEEN A SPECIFIC MEL OR A MAINT DEFERRAL SYS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A DEFERRED MAINT ITEM WITHOUT A SPECIFIC MEL (OR PERHAPS I AM ALL WRONG AND THE MEL DID COVER IT).