"This truly is an iconic business that tugs at the heartstrings of a lot of people, and especially the employees that work there."
Very true. I just think in light of the exceptional Management Team that has led us through the valley of death so many times in the last 10-15 years, Gareth -may- have been over reaching himself somewhat using the plural 'employees' instead of the soon-to-be far more likely 'employee'.
As for EK dealing with the Mascot lunatics.... Words are simply not enough, what cretin even thought their preschool thought bubbles could have worked? Someone came up with them, someone else thought they were worth supporting and then someone else (and the board) approved it... The whole cataclysmic disaster has been patently obvious to anyone with an IQ bigger than their shoe size for nigh on TEN YEARS!!