It would be nice, though perhaps naive, to believe that T's (SBC) method of surplus involved a touch of humanity and compassion, not just cold hard logic. Not to look at some persons name on a ledger and to see them perhaps as "average" and/or approaching the Rule of 75 and think, 'yep, they should go, because we have to meet a quota and eliminate pension expenses going forward.'
To remember that those who stayed past the voluntary offer did so for many reasons. Some are in their late 50's-early 60's and Social Security is not an option for a few years, even at minimum benefits.
Others realize their age makes them unemployable most anywhere else Let's be honest, would most of you hire a person, for a job, with 20 good working years ahead of them, train them, pay them far less and realize that you would no longer have pension worries? Or hire a similar person with 5-8 years work expectancy, more experience but for far more more money.....you already know the answer, right?
This is probably the hard truth with T, let's not fool ourselves, but the ones that by passed the offer are veterans of 25-35+ years and stayed through the break ups and the mergers, worked long hours and showed loyalty to a company that treated them fair during a time that seems long past.
SBC (T) has entered our lives and the veterans of T can only hope that the fairness, of years ago, has not totally disappeared.