MARIITA PALMER
Conroe
Summary
Strategic union organizer with leadership roles in education and public-sector campaigns, converting 475 of 1,050 prospects into members and helping build 4-3 school-board majorities. Uses data, workplace mapping, and leader development to grow membership, strengthen locals, and advance educator priorities.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
UniServ Director / Organizational Development Specialist
Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) / National Education Association (NEA)
Orlando
2011.01 - 2026.09
- Built organizing programs across assigned education locals representing approximately 2500 educators, using one-to-one conversations, workplace assessments, leader identification, campaign planning, and measurable organizing goals.
- Converted 475 of 1050 prospects into members for a 45.2% conversion rate across fall, winter, and spring organizing phases, including new teacher orientation and off-site organizing when worksite access was limited.
- Identified, recruited, trained, and developed association representatives, member organizers, local officers, and workplace leaders to grow member ownership and support sustainable union structure.
- Supported members and local leaders with grievances, contract interpretation, workplace concerns, employee rights, problem-solving, and union-management issues.
- Used membership data, organizing assessments, worksite mapping, and campaign results to review progress, identify opportunities, prioritize targets, and adjust strategy.
- Led political action and member mobilization across locals representing approximately 2500 educators and helped school-board campaigns achieve 4-3 governing majorities in multiple assigned districts.
- Built strategic relationships with school-board members, elected officials, community stakeholders, and labor allies to advance educator priorities and strengthen organizing goals.
- Coordinated locals, campaigns, trainings, and deadlines while delivering events remotely and onsite.
- Remote | Nationwide, regional field travel.
Lead National Organizer / National Organizer
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) / AFL-CIO
2007.01 - 2011.01
- Organized Transportation Security Officers in a national public-sector campaign for union representation and collective bargaining rights across large, geographically dispersed workforces.
- Conducted one-to-one organizing, workplace mapping, worker assessments, recruitment, natural-leader identification, committee development, member education, and mobilization to enhance workforce engagement.
- Trained AFGE leaders and activists in organizing strategy, member engagement, leadership development, campaign planning, and collective action.
- Supported organizing and representation campaigns through petition activity, worker mobilization, political advocacy, rallies, meetings, and coordinated campaign communications to strengthen worker representation.
- Drafted and submitted government-certified petitions advancing collective bargaining initiatives and supported worker representation under federal labor-relations procedures.
- Processed grievances under Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) guidelines and strengthened worker understanding of representation rights and workplace procedures.
- Built relationships with governors, senators, commissioners, community leaders, public officials, and labor allies, expanding campaign support and fostering collaborative advocacy.
- Performed national organizing through remote campaign coordination and extensive field travel, adapting strategy to changing campaign conditions and worker needs.
- Coordinated remote campaigns across national and regional areas.
Education
Master of Science Education - Instructional Design Systems & Social Statistics
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OHBachelor of Science Education - English
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OHGraduate Certificate - Instructional Design Systems & Technology
Full Sail University
AFL-CIO Organizing Institute
Washington, D.C.Skills
- Internal and new organizing
- Worker-led initiatives
- Leadership development
- Membership growth and retention
- Campaign planning and evaluation
- Grievance processing and representation
- Political mobilization
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- Organizing data systems
- Remote campaign coordination
Personal Information
Title: FIELD ORGANIZER | UNION ORGANIZING | MEMBER & LEADER DEVELOPMENT
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & HONORS
NEA Student Program, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Gold Key Honor Society
Timeline
UniServ Director / Organizational Development Specialist
Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) / National Education Association (NEA)
2011.01 - 2026.09
Lead National Organizer / National Organizer
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) / AFL-CIO
2007.01 - 2011.01
Master of Science Education - Instructional Design Systems & Social Statistics
Youngstown State University
Bachelor of Science Education - English
Youngstown State University
Graduate Certificate - Instructional Design Systems & Technology
Full Sail University
AFL-CIO Organizing Institute