We the undersigned have learned of the Syracuse Diocese's plan for corporate retructuring of the St. Mary's and St. Agnes Cemeteries and the impending layoff of six employees represented by SEIU Local 200 United. We have also learned that these are long tenured employees with an average of 20 years on the job; that they earn a modest wage of $15.75 per hour; and that they have proposed new contract terms to include wage increases, the cost of which will be generated entirely by their acceptance of a new and cheaper health insurance plan. Under these circumstances it seems unlikely that a restructuring can serve any purpose other than to provide an opportunity for the Cemeteries to rid themselves of an aging, unionized workforce. This is not a message that the religious community of CNY needs to send to working people. If the Cemeteries elect to proceed with the proposed restructuring, we urge you to influence the successor entity to hire all six SEIU Local 200United members and sign their union contract.