I don't know anything of a specific plan to buy out a portion of leave entitlement... but I DO know...
1. Staff on personal contracts already had their leave cut upon renewing said contract
2. Fortunes are paid out to operational staff under SOAL (Sale Of Annual Leave). Like it or not, it makes sense for any company to query the sense of this. Some might say a more positive reaction would be to staff all areas fully, so that there was no excuse for everyone not to use their leave