Nobody is arguing how the company is compartmentalized and structured. It is not preferential hiring, that is a fact. If you want to see preferential hiring go see what the United and Delta programs are. There is an interview process, and they do not HAVE to take you. Once you are hired at PSA/PDT/ENY you can go to AA when your seniority can hold the transfer.
Now, that said, you really need to spend some time and google and read about single carrier petitions and the criteria that is looked at when they decide if a single carrier system exists or not.
Here, I'll even give you a recent decision that did involve AA already AFTER the bankruptcy that has AAG legal so very concerned about a single carrier petition...….… two different companies owned by the same holdings company....
https://atd142.org/wp-content/upload...No.-15-FUI.pdf
Here's one for two legally separate corporations, but one sells the tickets for the other and runs/directs their entire operation.
https://nmb.gov/NMB_Application/wp-c...SWAPA-ALPA.pdf
How many of those are checked off already. Now show them the published company materials of a guaranteed job awaiting them to garner enough seniority, and while still in college being told this is your one and only interview to become an American 777 pilot.....
it's essentially met and been a single carrier for years, but ALPA loses 5,000 members and APA doesn't want their friends, family and squadron buddies starting out at $40k a year, waiting 5 years to break $100k without killing themselves.