Yes, guys, it is true.
Voluntary redundancy has been offered, with an enhanced(?) package being offered to those who signed up before midnight Friday 6th. Now that that list is closed, they will either accept volunteers on a reduced package, or make compulsory reundancies at the end of the current week. The package revolves around statutory minima - suprise suprise!
The voluntary side has been badly handled (another suprise!) with little information being available to the staff (eg pension info), and contrary to the standard "There will be no special deals" cry, wheeling and dealing has been going on fast and furiously, and it would appear that there have been plenty of special deals struck. These will all come out of the wash within the next 7 days as those who have not negotiated their own special deal leave the fold on Friday 13th (appropriate date!).
Communication between the management and the Employees Representative Committee (which was only set up because legislation required it!) has been difficult, with certaim management memebers being unavailable to answer queries, as the bewitching hour on Friday was approaching. Intransigence on the part of management seems to have been their method of negotiation. The American influence?
The people targeted have been the most expensive employees, ie the long servers with the experience and seniority, which clearly demonstrates that there is no longer any form of career available to helo jocks in the UK (probably the world now), all the work available will be contract based, and guys will have to make their own provision for pensions, etc., etc..
This message should have got home to the younger guys (and gals) in the industry, but if it has not, the message which you need to get into your head now, loud and clear, is that the future is bleak! If you have an alternative, exercise it sooner rather than later (before you have kids, etc.), or if you do not have an alternative yet, start working at one, TODAY!