It is difficult to become a barge captain. The opportunities for training and experience are rare. In addition few grow up dreaming of driving a garbage barge. I am sure that unions help but the real problem for us is that there are simply too many pilots. Evidence of this lies in the sharply raising minimums at the major airlines. How else are employers to stem the growing swell of pilots?

SkyHigh

In six months one can become legal to fly as a FO on an airliner. Pilots have nothing to bargain with.