Council 93 Stops Closure of State Hospitals

Boston, MA- Council 93 and a coalition of other unions have successfully pushed back against Governor Maura Healey’s proposed budget cuts that included closing the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children and the Pocasset Mental Health Center. The decision to pause the closures was met with relief and celebration from union leaders, healthcare workers, and families who depend on these essential services.

Nancy Silva, President of AFSCME Local 1517, which represents over 115 workers at Pappas, expressed gratitude for the Governor’s decision but emphasized that the fight is far from over. “Keeping Pappas open is a step in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go. There will always be a need for the services that Pappas provides. Right now, there are thousands of families in Massachusetts who rely on specialized care for their children. We should be expanding Pappas and the vital care that it provides,” Silva said underscoring the importance of keeping the facility open permanently.

Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital has provided specialized care for children with complex medical, emotional, and social needs for over 120 years. “Pappas is more than just a facility. It’s a community,” Silva stated. “It’s a place where children with unique medical, emotional, and social needs can receive care tailored specifically for them.”

The proposed closures were met with strong opposition from Council 93, a wide ranging coalition of other unions, and healthcare advocates, who argued that shutting down these facilities would severely impact vulnerable populations. The Pocasset Mental Health Center serves as a critical resource for individuals facing mental health crises, particularly in an era and area where access to such care is already limited. Silva and other union leaders have called on state officials to not only keep these facilities open, but to expand public health investments.

“Massachusetts is in a mental and public health crisis! We should be investing in and expanding access to care, not laying off mental health caseworkers, which will only make things worse,” Silva warned.

Workers at Pappas and Pocasset are committed to providing high-quality care, and many, like Silva, have dedicated their entire careers to these institutions. “I have spent nearly four decades of my life at Pappas Children’s Hospital. I stayed there all those years not just because it was my job, but because of the children—because they became like family to me,” she shared.

Council 93 has long argued that rather than cutting funding, Massachusetts should lead the way in strengthening public healthcare services. “We owe it to the children, the families, and to the future of Massachusetts to ensure that Pappas remains open and thriving for years to come,” Silva declared, rallying supporters with the slogan: “We will always be PAPPAS STRONG!”

While the temporary pause on closures is a victory, Council 93 and our allies remain vigilant, continuing to fight for a long-term commitment to public health investment.