Contracts are renegotiated when there is a need for them to be renegotiated.

Due to ridiculously low wages, among other factors, the pilot shortage is here (at the regional level). Therefore, the time has come that the majors are going to have to increase what they pay on the contracts if they want the flying done at the regional level. It's an unsustainable model long term, but if they want to squeak out a few more years while they build a strategy to bring the flying back in house, then they are going to have to pay to do that. They, the majors, know that. Republic is proof of that. The major's have known this was coming for a long time. They were just pushing off the inevitable.

It's simple economics. Supply and demand. The supply of pilots willing to work for poverty level wages is gone. The demand for pilots has gone up. Low supply, high demand = increased wages. The major airlines are doing very well financially. If they want the flying done, they will pay for it.