Newcastle Airport Dispatcher Vacancies.
 

Hi Guys,
I currently work in TV but have always thought about changing careers to become an Aircraft Dispatcher.
Two vacancies have arisen at my local airport BUT how can anyone live on the wage they are offering: £7.00 PER HOUR for a 25 hour week including shifts meaning you can't even take on a second job to supplement your income.
Is this normal?
And such a low wage for being in such a responsible position?
I might have to stay where I am for the time being!

Welcome to the wonderful world of UK Ground Handlers.
Yes, £7 an hour for 25 hours sounds like a standard contract. There would be OT, but by putting you on a part time contract they can hire 2 dispatchers instead of one.
How do you live on that money? Good question..... Now the industry is run by accountants and shareholders the checks are smaller, headcounts are lower.

Stay in TV - I'm stuck in aviation and have no real idea of what I could do outside of the industry. The past 20 years I've had to stretch my pay further to the point I'm looking overseas again and I'm a Manager. Might as well get a suntan and be hungry than wet and hungry

Don't do it :ok:

I was lucky (or unlucky?) enough to join my handling agent just before it started to go down the drain and by today's standards was offered a fairly decent contract.

I have no idea how the new guys on £7ph and zero hours live :ugh:

It's strange because everyone I speak to are trying to get into TV and I tell them the same that you are telling me.........."don't do it, the good times are over"!!!

But honestly, how do the expect to get anyone decent with that wage?

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....