Network Rail's Operative package begins with a base salary of £30,351 and an additional £3,300 for inner London allowance, totaling £41,238.75 with night shift increments.

Network Rail contribute 10.86% towards pension, with a total contribution of £4,478.52, and offer 28 holidays worth £3,268. Their employer's national insurance contribution is £5,552.04.

Despite this, Network Rail's pay structure allows their staff to earn a minimum of £26 per hour, or a total of £54,537.88 per annum. In stark contrast, contractors are compensated at £20 per hour for the same 5-day, 8-hour workweek, which amounts to just £41,600 per annum.

As contractors, we will incur an employer's National Insurance contribution of £86.25 per week, in addition to a weekly umbrella fee of £25. These expenses result in an annual deduction of £5,785, effectively reducing our salary from £41,600 to £35,815. Moreover, without considering fuel expenses, our weekly take-home pay is approximately £570.42. In comparison, Network Rail staff, even at the lowest grade for track workers, have a take-home pay of £684. This indicates that Network Rail employees are at least £114 better off each week compared to contractors in our position.

With the rising cost of living, our current pay is undervalued and does not reflect these increases. Here’s how various hourly rates compare annually:

• £12/hour = £24,960/year
• £13/hour = £27,040/year
• £14/hour = £29,120/year
• £15/hour = £31,200/year
• £16/hour = £33,280/year
• £17/hour = £35,360/year
• £18/hour = £37,440/year
• £19/hour = £39,520/year
• £20/hour = £41,600/year
• £21/hour = £43,680/year
• £22/hour = £45,760/year

These figures highlight the disparity between our earnings and the actual cost of maintaining a decent standard of living. We strive for an increase in compensation that accurately reflects living costs today.