tc, you are wrong, for various reasons,however,
You remind me of the Harry Enfield character who always said, " I seem to have considerably more money than you"
When you said,
"I do not wish to denegrate my poorly paid comrades",
You really sound pathetic.
"Why should there be a discrepancy between contract and direct employment salaries?"
More homework required I think.
Remember, when you get yourself in a hole,
Stop digging.