KILGORE (KYTX) - Imagine you and your co-workers resigning from your job at the same time. The reason? You're all unhappy with your new job requirements.
David Bond has been working for the city of Kilgore for more than a decade.
He's dedicated his career to taking care of Kilgore's three cemeteries.
"It isn't just mowing and weedeating. We mark graves, we do dirt work, we got the tractor out. We got the dump truck out," said Bond.
However, this past week he decided it was time to enter an early retirement.
"And I haven't got a man to replace me," said Bond.
He's not the only one calling it quits, so are the two men who work with him.
"Just getting tired of how things are happening out here," said Chris Bradberry.
The men say it all started when the city manager, Scott Sellers, brought in a new public works director, Seth Sorensen.
The workers said Sorensen recently told them they will be required to do more work.
"Training us more or less to be street employees," said Bradberry.
Bond said taking care of 50 acres of graveyard and thousands of graves is already a full-time job.
"I'm already two men short and I have been since the day I started over here," said Bond.
CBS 19 spoke with Seth Sorensen, Kilgore's Public Works Director to see what he thought about the whole situation. He neither confirmed nor denied the accusations the workers are making. However, he did tell CBS 19 he appreciated us contacting the city to get their side of the story, but he did not wish to make a comment.
"I been in the cemetery. I just want to run cemetery equipment. Not do street jobs," said Bradberry.
As the workers look for new jobs, they're wondering why the city decided to make the sudden changes.
"Before you come in here and rip it out and change it, how about you see how it functions, ask why it functions the way it does," said Bond.
Bond is quitting without a backup plan and will lose his health insurance.
"That's the terrible part, it is so serious, it is worth leaving," said Bond.
We also tried to contact the Kilgore city manager. However, no one returned our calls or e-mails by news time.
The workers say their last day will be August 21st. But, at least, two part time employees are staying with the department.
