Over the last 2 years, there has been voluntarily packages offered to reduce headcount. Mgmnt expected the "old timers" to accept and take the packages offered, however, it was the young recent college grads that took the package. They benefited by getting company paid tuition, getting a package, and then finding jobs elsewhere. So now, this separation is aimed at the employees with 15+ years of service who get a pension. Obviously, the company can't age discriminate and will let some young people go, but the majority will be high seniority employees. .. hope i'm wrong but that what it seems like.
This explains the company's $11bln restructuring objective... eliminating pension accrual and reduce high salaried employees.