The security union at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, Mass., filed an unfair labor practice charge after the firing of multiple officers, reports The Recorder.
The Law Enforcement Officers Security Unions, which represents 20 officers, filed the charge with the National Labor Relations Board. The charge was filed over the termination of two officers and the hospital's alleged failure to provide annual merit raises, according to the report.
The hospital has fired three officers since the union formed in February, and one of the fired officers received severance pay, according to The Recorder.
"I guess they are retaliating against the security officers. All of a sudden they're coming up with excuse after excuse to try to terminate" officers, LEOSU Organizing Director Steve Maritas said in the report.
Baystate Franklin did not respond to email requests from Becker's Hospital Review seeking comment. However, the hospital told The Recorder, filing an unfair labor practice is a simple task that can be done on the labor board's website.
"Unfair labor practice charges are often used as a tactic to get media attention," hospital spokesperson Benjamin Craft said. "The vast majority of such charges filed by the MNA [Massachusetts Nurses Association] against BFMC in recent years, for example, have been dismissed or withdrawn."
Additionally, Baystate Franklin President Cindy Russo said in the report the hospital is investigating. "I respect the confidentiality of my employees unlike the union that has not shared that same respect," she said.
The LEOSU and MNA are both in the process of negotiating contracts.