BOSTON – A complaint was issued Dec. 29 by the National Labor Relations Board, claiming Steward Health Care had engaged in unfair labor practices. At issue is the firing of a 61-year-old nurse, Mary Ramirez, who had worked for 40 years at Steward’s Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass.

Ramirez claimed that she was fired as punishment for a successful union organizing drive; Steward has countered that Ramirez lost her job for changing a doctor’s order and committing an intentional medical error, according to spokesman Chris Murphy.

In addition, the NLRB complaint cited Steward for preventing other Holy Name nurses from wearing buttons in support of the fired nurse.

A hearing is scheduled on Feb. 14 before an NLRB administrative judge. •