There has been ample union bashing during this economic downturn.

Unionized autoworkers seem to be taking the brunt this time around. Many observers have credited the workforce of GM and Chrysler with contributing to the companies' demise. That point may be debatable, but it has many people talking about the merits of private sector unions in the global economy.

Achieving great pay packages, improved working conditions and fantastic benefits don't mean much if the company you work for closes shop because it can't compete. As someone who became a teacher because of my passion and strong belief in the importance of public education, I have repeatedly questioned the role of entrenched teacher unions. Now, as we move from the industrial to the information age, I fear the demise of Ontario's own cherished public education system if major reforms don't come to the teaching profession.

Teaching youth to be the leaders of tomorrow is one of the most important jobs out there. It is why I wonder, in disbelief, how we can continue to let the people doing this work be paid uniformly with no consideration given to their ability.

Currently, the salary of a unionized teacher is determined by two factors - seniority and level of education, with seniority having greatest influence. Whether you are any good at it doesn't factor in.

There are evaluations given to teachers. But unions have watered down these processes so much that these infrequent evaluations take place only with advance notice and offer a nondescript grading system such as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. With unions in the mix, teachers are all equals, so an experienced teacher can't formally evaluate an inexperienced one. Performance appraisals are left to administrators. They are frequently too few in number and have far fewer years of experience than the teachers they are evaluating.

Former Ontario Premier Mike Harris threw administrators out of the union and into management. In doing so, however, he neglected to compensate this group well enough and left too much power in the hands of the union-protected teachers.

It's no wonder Ontario's public school system has trouble enticing its best teachers and school leaders to move up the ranks. Few want to leave their comfy union confines to become overworked and underappreciated school administrators.

Don't get me wrong here. The teaching profession requires legal protection that unions or associations provide. However, that need has come with far too many "improved working conditions" and an inability to weed out poor teachers. That has put the system in danger. What is good for teachers is not always good for public education. Twenty sick days might be great from the teacher's perspective. But it's damaging to education.

To be fair, the unions have helped public education by fighting for good salaries and benefits that have lured talented individuals into the profession. Once in, however, you will have to be incredibly, intrinsically motivated and wear blinders to avoid comparing yourself to and eventually becoming the lazy teacher down the hall who does nothing and gets paid the same as you.

The concept of merit pay has been floated before. It has its drawbacks if the criteria for how it is disbursed isn't in line with improved teacher performance. Relying heavily on one measure such as test scores or leaving too much power in the hands of one principal won't suffice. It will require all stakeholders, including teacher's unions, to devise an equitable system of teacher evaluation. We need one that can allow for performance pay and the removal of bad teachers. If the teacher unions avoid this issue or rally members to continue the status quo, their true colours will have been shown.

I am encouraged to hear U.S. President Obama speak of using merit pay related to revising his nation's teacher evaluation process as a way to improve the American public education system. He recognizes the impact improved teacher performance can have on student success. Let's hope an Ontario political figure emerges with the courage take this on.

Gregory Cawsey is a teacher in Guelph and a member of the Guelph Mercury's Community Editorial Board. He can be contacted at mailto:gregory@justcaws.com