A national teachers union leader is speaking out against how the University of Cincinnati Medical Center has treated its nurses, according to The Enquirer.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, told the newspaper that the hospital, which she recently visited, is "being so stupid and so tone-deaf that instead of actually listening to nurses, who the public loves, about what the nurses are saying about safety in the hospital, they're trying to silence them and stifle them."
"I've seen that before, but in a place like Cincinnati, I was really surprised about it," she said.
Her comments came amid her support for a medical center nurse who was fired and another who was disciplined in June.
Labor and delivery nurse Jennifer Donaldson, vice president of the Registered Nurses Association, was fired after she made a Facebook Live video in April updating members on negotiations. Michelle Thoman, president of the Registered Nurses Association, who helped record the video, was disciplined after the video was posted.
Hospital leaders told The Enquirer Ms. Donaldson failed to follow procedure in taking a break to make the video, while Ms. Thoman was disciplined for helping Ms. Donaldson with the video. Ms. Thoman was not on duty when she helped make the video.
Ms. Donaldson and Ms. have filed grievances complained to the National Labor Relations Board about the hospital's action taken against them.
Medical center spokesperson Amanda Nageleisen told the newspaper in September, "Our agreement with the union contains a clear policy that outlines and governs the grievance process. We respect this process and are following it accordingly."
Read the full Enquirer report here.