In fairness, the dispatchers I've worked with have been in the £8-9 per hour mark.
As a department manager, I've tried to budget for pay increases, but when you only invoice £xxx for a turn, and divide xxx by 3 ramp agents, a gate agent, a dispatcher and one or two check in staff - it's really cutting it fine paying each of those almost £9
All the ground handling companies are out to get all the business, so £xxx keeps decreasing, pushing the other guys out of business. But when it's so cheap, the airline pushes lower and lower. And then when they realise you get what you pay for, they put you on notice and go to the next handler on the airport. Who will do it for £xxx-y. It's a vicious circle.
Yes, I remember the good old days as a ramp rat in the late 80's and early 90's when I was training to be a pilot. I remember the 90's as a pilot and when I lost my medical I went back airside on the ground. But it's just gotten worse.
The stories us old timers can tell..... and the young'uns just starting will never understand why it was so much fun....