FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
$ java -version
java version "1.7.0_01"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_01-b08)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 21.1-b02, mixed mode)
$ javac -version
javac 1.7.0_01


ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Gentoo Linux 64-bit (probably irrelevant)

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Compiling the class below yields the error message you see below.

REGRESSION. Last worked in version 6u29

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Compile class Foo as given below

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
No errors.
ACTUAL -
$ javac Foo.java
Foo.java:8: error: ordinal has private access in Foo
if (this.ordinal == o.ordinal)
^
Foo.java:11: error: ordinal has private access in Foo
return (this.ordinal > o.ordinal) ? 1 : -1;
^
2 errors


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
public abstract class Foo<E extends Foo<E>> implements Comparable<E>
{
private int ordinal;

public final int compareTo(E o)
{
if (this.ordinal == o.ordinal)
return 0;

return (this.ordinal > o.ordinal) ? 1 : -1;
}
}

---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Inserting the line
  Foo<E> tmp = o;
and then using tmp.ordinal instead of o.ordinal is a valid workaround.