I'm no expert but how I under stand it is the company can offer x months of pay if you leave by your self. This does not need to be negotiated with the union. I

I'm no expert but how I under stand it is the company can offer x months of pay if you leave by your self. This does not need to be negotiated with the union. If this makes enough people leave, there will be no negotiation. If however they want more to leave they have to negotiate with the Union that the workers are connected to, it does not matter if the company have a contract with them or not. Also, they have to give six months notice to the unemployment agency if they plan to fire more than 100 people.