The timing of this coincides with a slow down in regional hiring at the FO level. (More and more cancelled regional classes) The WOs are fat on FOs who are not doing a whole lot.

Also, if you can believe the rumors F9 is running short on applications.

This might be a means to lure some of those FOs who are not flying and commuting to SCR at a regional. The first year pay and bonus might convince some to jump ship depending on how one does the calculus