Management new about the upcoming pilot shortage prior to these new contracts. Management on both sides knew this. It's a numbers game. How long can they hold out negotiating this new contract and the longer it goes the more money both sides make and save.
Except now Republic management needs this contract to go through more than the pilots do. From their point of view, the contract is what is keeping them from A.) attracting new FO's and B.) keeping existing FO's.
I submit its too late. I find it hard to believe recycled FO's are going to be jumping ship to Republic. Also, there simply is not enough new pilots available to hire to make all of Bryan's dreams come true.