Pay and conditions

We all know the story, a once-revered group of dedicated, elite professionals is sidelined by those in government.

Despite their protestations, the powers that be ignore their cries for pay parity with those in comparable occupations. As time passes their remuneration declines until they find themselves on a comparative fraction of what they once earned. Despite the fall in their earnings they receive a couple of paltry percentage points on their income from the government.

This year both optometrists and members of Parliament feel they fall into this camp. But the big difference is that while the Optometric Fees Review Committee has secured a 2.5 per cent increase in GOS fees, MPs have a bigger prize in mind.