Why not come clean with the truth ? If they are going to kneecap 800 guys at least give some a chance to move on with certainty.
why not be honest and let us plan our futures?
It's bad enough to be doing it, but why make it harder by lying about it until it is sprung upon us by surprise.
Like
Jetsbest said, they don't want anyone to go until they (management) are ready for them to go.
They don't care about you or your career. They don't care if you struggle to put food on the table when they make you redundant & you have no income while you are trying to find another job.
All they care about is maintaining the operation until they are ready to implement the changes they have in mind. When that time comes, they will cut you adrift without a second thought for you or your family.
Modern business practice 101.