Wilberton - welcome to the real world. For a long time in my industry (not flight related) there have been contractors who earn considerably more than the permanent staff for doing the same role.
The answer has always been if you think your that good, then take the risk go contract, higher pay, risk of worse jobs, no long term prospects. I did it for seven years and made a lot of money but then became a permie again.
It's no good expecting a union to help you if you won't help yourself.
No axe to grind - just I see this all the time - "she's getting more than me, for doing less, boo hoo", "so do what she's doing instead of what you're doing"