Our company recently started consulting with us with regards to section 189, noting "organisational restructure" as the reason for retrenchments.

However this seems to be a farce to reduce salaries of long-standing employees. 

There are a number of long-standing employees who have been in the company for 20 years or more.

I feel this restructure is a fabricated way to reduce salaries. All positions have been given new titles and we are to apply for these new positions (that have the same job description and responsibilities as our current roles). However despite having the same responsbilities and job spec, these new jobs have a highly reduced salary. And if we do not accept the "fake new role" with the reduced salary, we have to resign. A great way to avoid paying long-standing employees huge retrenchment packages (based on their 20 years of service). 

Can they do this? Is this really fair?