It is a fortune when you take into consideration that you actually on EF (where you bid) average 500 hours per year. That's a bit more than half-time when you actually are allowed to work 900 hours.
That is possibly the crux of the problem. When you have massive CRC turnarounds of 2-3 hours between flights then the disparity between duty hours and flying hours grows ever greater. Don't forget that the 900 hour limit is based upon flying hours only and not duty hours.
With correct rostering coupled with more effective utilisation of the CC as a manpower asset you could actually have less time in uniform and more time in the air earning your allowances.