This has to be the biggest insult in aviation history, not only losing the brand new 175's but the flying getting acquired by ExpressJet's biggest nemesis - SkyWest a non-union carrier. This is goin to be the nail in the coffin for certainty.
In the end there will be only be five regionals left as predicted (Wholly Owned, Republic and SkyWest).
If I were an ExpressJet pilot I would bail out now and leave for a non United regional and send them a big message that enough is enough.