On November 3, 2025, following two months of coordinated bargaining, members of UE Locals 228 and 728 ratified new 11-month agreements. The locals collectively represent more than 850 workers who process visa petitions and provide petitioner support at the Department of State’s National Visa Center in Portsmouth, NH and the Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, KY, respectively. They are sister locations whose members are employed by federal contractor LDRM under the State Department’s Visa Support Services contract.
The new union contracts are the best in the history of the two locals, containing no concessions and dozens of improvements to working conditions and compensation. Highlights include: significant erosion of management control, granting workers increased agency in determining their working hours, weekly schedules, and the tasks to which they are assigned; prohibition on the use of production standards; rapid wash-out of disciplinary actions after 6 to 12 months; and substantial flat increases of between $1.90 & $2.80 per hour (depending on shift and location), equating to increases of between seven and nine percent.
Settling these strong contracts is a great win for both locals. But the most significant win came from the inter-local unity that put an end to months of aggressive union busting by LDRM.
Tumultuous Year
Prior to bargaining, 2025 had been a tumultuous year for Local 228 and 728 members. In February, the Trump administration issued a Return to Office (RTO) order for federal workers that ended five years of exclusively remote work for most workers. LDRM took the opportunity presented by the RTO order to assert dominance and wrest control of the workplace back from union members. In late February, the company fired Local 228 Chief Steward Shane Tassinari, alleging that by simply objecting to newly-imposed policies that banned the use of gender-identifying pronouns in the workplace, he had violated those policies. According to Tassinari, his dismissal was “a clear attempt to break our union's organizing momentum” as the locals fought to oppose and bargain over the RTO order.
On March 18, the day after in-office work resumed, LDRM issued a final warning and three-day suspension to Local 728 Chief Steward Christina Brookman for “unacceptable quality,” citing a single, non-critical error in an otherwise perfect quality record. Removal of Brookman’s discipline would eventually be among the many grievance settlements reached during contract negotiations.
Weeks later, LDRM filed a false police report against Local 728 Vice President Brittany White, alleging that White had violated Kentucky laws on harassment when she asked workers to contact the LDRM Program Manager and demand the company bargain in good faith over the effects of the RTO order. The report resulted in an arrest warrant and months of legal battles for White. “They tried to have me arrested and tried to have other union officers fired all because of protected, concerted, legal union activity,” said White, recalling her experience. “With persistence and the support of our members behind me, charges against me were eventually dropped. LDRM will never stand a chance against us because we’re strong and united.”
Company Intimidation Backfires
LDRM’s campaign of targeting union leaders continued into contract negotiations. In early September, the company attempted to fire Local 728 steward Ashley Perkins. While negotiations were in session off-site, Perkins delivered a bargaining update at a breakroom union meeting. The meeting concluded with Perkins leading members in a round of loud chants. In response, LDRM immediately fired Perkins and escorted her off the property, imaginatively claiming that the chants violated the No Strike clause of the union contract. Members on site swiftly spoke out in defense of Perkins. The Local 728 Bargaining Committee halted negotiations, demanding that the company return her to work at once, or be subjected to an actual violation of the No Strike language. Within an hour, the company reversed its action, complete with a public apology to Perkins on the shop floor.
The company’s attempts at intimidation only galvanized Local 228 and 728 members to fight harder and organize better to ensure the best contracts possible. According to 728 President Caroline Gambrel, “We had our organizers out on the floor openly talking to members, keeping them informed with what’s going on with bargaining. We had several parking lot meetings and each one grew in participation. For one of the last meetings, we had 140 of our members walk out the front door on break. That left management in a panic thinking we were going out on strike. The next day, the company came back and met a lot of our demands.”
Local 728 second-shift workers observe bargaining to show support for union demands.
Both locals had begun negotiations separately, but by mid-October — with an end-of-month contract expiration date in New Hampshire and a growing credible strike threat at both sites — LDRM assented to the union’s demand that the company deal with a joint committee composed of members of both locals. According to Local 228 President Jane Shepard-O’Connor, “LDRM underestimated both locals in being able to continue our individual contract fights while at the same time weaving strong ties that bonded 228 and 728 against them. They were wrong. We listened to each other, we respected each other, we relied on each other, and we appreciated each other and the strengths we brought to the table. LDRM should look at this relationship and understand that we are just getting started and have no intention of stopping. We are UE strong!”
Company Meets Union’s Bottom Line After Joint Strike Threat
The joint committee had a clear bottom line: LDRM had to return Tassinari to work and restore some of the remote work opportunities that had been removed with the RTO order. Failing that, the committees would not recommend ratification to their members. On the evening of October 31, with Local 728 having worked without a contract for a month and only hours remaining until the expiration of Local 228’s contract, LDRM boldly presented a “last, best, and final offer” that contained neither a telework solution that benefited members, nor Tassinari’s reinstatement. The following day, an overwhelming majority of members in Kentucky and New Hampshire voted down the offer and committed to a joint strike. Faced with a coordinated strike action, LDRM immediately relented and provided an improved offer that included expanded telework options and Tassinari’s reinstatement.
Reflecting on the victory, Tassinari observed, “They thought removing leadership would intimidate the membership. Instead, 228 and 728 showed what real solidarity looks like. The company was facing the prospect of both of our locations going on strike simultaneously. That kind of coordinated shutdown would have been devastating to their federal contracts and their reputation with the State Department. Suddenly, they couldn't just wait out the arbitration process or stonewall us anymore.
“Faced with that organized power, LDRM not only reinstated me — both KCC and NVC workers negotiated solid contracts with added protections and healthy raises. The company had done everything they could to avoid resolving my case, betting the legal system would protect them. But when hundreds of workers across two facilities said they were ready to walk out together, management had no choice but to come to the table for real.
“I'm deeply humbled by the courage our members showed and the solidarity between our two locals. We proved that coordinated worker power across facilities doesn't just defend against union busting — it wins real gains for everyone.”
Despite the tremendous gains in the contracts and the successful show of unity that restored Tassinari as Local 228’s Chief Steward, the locals pushed for short agreements to ensure they would soon have another opportunity to hold LDRM accountable. Both contracts will expire September 30, 2026, and joint strike preparations are already underway.
The Local 228 Bargaining Committee consisted of Shephard-O’Connor, Tassinari, Chief Steward Ed Martin, Sergeant-at-Arms Dave Kirby, and Stewards Tim Campbell and Tony D’Iorio. The Local 728 Bargaining Committee consisted of Gambrel, Brookman, Chief Steward Kala Collett, Financial Secretary Melissa Hamblin, Recording Secretary Jerred Harris, Steward Cindy Borum, and Stephen Lindsay. They were assisted by Staff Coordinator Zachary Knipe and Field Representative Kevin White.