I pondered that question this morning when I read in the USA Today that union membership in the public sector nudged ahead of union membership in the private sector last year for the first time. Like many of you I have mixed feelings about unions. My first job out of college was teaching social studies at a high school. During my teaching days I was a member of a teaches union.
While a member I realized the benefits of my union. At that time I also witnessed how the union contributed to the division between the teachers and administration. Now that I am a brand consultant, my mind is wired to always look at an organization from a brand perspective. This morning I wonder if organizations whose employees and vendors are unionized include the unions in the brand development process and make them aware of the organization's brand strategy. If so, perhaps there could be more collegiality.
What do you think? Could unions become champions of the brand, and could the brand become champions of the unions? Either way if unions are to survive, they need a brand strategy!
Rex Whisman
Brand Champions Blog
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