As I understand it, the 50 VR's being offered are for Melbourne domestic and international Line Maintenance LAME's. As expected, there is no shortage of volunteers. Who could blame them.
One theory is that this is an attempt to purge the ranks of a lot of the old guys. Leaving a younger generation behind who still have a mortage to pay and kids to put through school. Thus providing management with a work force that is more likely to be persuaded into the management way of thinking. Especially now that the only management negotiating technique is to dangle people's jobs infront of them.