Employee Post-Employment Benefits (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 05, 2012		Jun. 05, 2012		May 31, 2011		Jun. 01, 2010
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Focus of time horizon of primary investment objectives, lower limit			3 years
Focus of time horizon of primary investment objectives, upper limit			5 years
Time following retirement before payment is to be made					6 months
Change in plan assets:
Cash value of whole-life insurance contracts	$ 27,300,000		$ 27,300,000		$ 27,200,000
Assets Held in trust Cash and Cash Equivalents	500,000		500,000		900,000
Assumed health care cost trend rates [Abstract]
Gross medical trend rate assumed for next fiscal year (in hundredths)			8.00%
Description of direction and pattern of change for assumed health care cost trend rate			We expect this rate to decrease approximately 0.5% per year from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2016 and approximately 0.25% each fiscal year thereafter for an ultimate trend rate of 5.0% in fiscal 2022.
Ultimate trend rate (in hundredths)			5.00%
Year that rate reaches ultimate trend rate	2022		2022
Deferred Compensation Plan [Abstract]
Deferred compensation plan expenses			0				0
Deferred Compensation Plan's assets	9,000,000		9,000,000
Deferred compensation plan's liabilities	10,400,000		10,400,000
Prepaid and other expenses	13,670,000		13,670,000		12,797,000
Payroll and related costs	32,546,000		32,546,000		27,559,000
Other assets, net	70,675,000		70,675,000		56,938,000
Other deferred liabilities	68,054,000		68,054,000		59,591,000
Investment in RTI common stock and the related liability payable in RTI common stock	1,000,000		1,000,000		1,600,000
Defined Contribution Plans [Abstract]
Number of defined contribution plans	2		2
Employer contribution percentage (in hundredths)			0.06
Employer matching contribution, vesting period			3 years
Defined contribution plan expense			0		300,000		0
Executive Retirements [Abstract]
Severance Costs			1,700,000
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	2,200,000		400,000
No of days after which severence payment will be made	60 days
Pension Plan, estimated charge	2,800,000
Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of defined benefit pension plans	3		3
Estimated employer contributions to be made in next fiscal year	800,000		800,000
Target allocations of assets [Abstract]
Equity securities, range minimum (in hundredths)			60.00%
Equity securities, range maximum (in hundredths)			80.00%
Fixed income securities, range minimum (in hundredths)			20.00%
Fixed income securities, range maximum (in hundredths)			40.00%
Cash and cash equivalents (in hundredths)			0.00%
Total (in hundredths)			100.00%
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Equity securities (in hundredths)	67.00%		67.00%		71.00%
Fixed income securities (in hundredths)	31.00%		31.00%		28.00%
Cash and cash equivalents (in hundredths)	2.00%		2.00%		1.00%
Total (in hundredths)	100.00%		100.00%		100.00%
Long term return target, actuarial assumption (in hundredths)			8.00%
Target allocation percentage of assets, individual domestic stock, maximum (in hundredths)			10.00%
Target allocation percentage of assets, international equity securities, maximum (in hundredths)			30.00%
Investment horizon of fixed income portfolio, lower limit			5 years
Investment horizon of fixed income portfolio, upper limit			10 years
Non-government-issued fixed income security to total fixed income securities portfolio, maximum portfolio allocation (in hundredths)			10.00%
Fair value of plan assets	5,758,000		5,758,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	5,758,000		5,758,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	5,622,000		5,622,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	5,622,000		5,622,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	136,000		136,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	136,000		136,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0
Retirement Plan [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	136,000		136,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	136,000		136,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0
Retirement Plan [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	136,000		136,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	136,000		136,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0
Retirement Plan [Member] | Equity securities - U.S.-based companies [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	3,525,000		3,525,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	3,525,000		3,525,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Equity securities - U.S.-based companies [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	3,525,000		3,525,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	3,525,000		3,525,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Equity securities - U.S.-based companies [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0
Retirement Plan [Member] | Equity securities - U.S.-based companies [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0
Retirement Plan [Member] | Equity securities - international-based companies [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	346,000		346,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	346,000		346,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Equity securities - international-based companies [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	346,000		346,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	346,000		346,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Equity securities - international-based companies [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0
Retirement Plan [Member] | Equity securities - international-based companies [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0
Retirement Plan [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,751,000		1,751,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,751,000		1,751,000
Retirement Plan [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,751,000		1,751,000
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,751,000		1,751,000
Executive Supplemental Pension Plan and Management Retirement Plan [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Lump Sum Pension Payment Accrued Liability For Ceo	8,100,000		8,100,000		8,100,000
Projected future benefit payments in next fiscal year	10,500,000		10,500,000
Benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for five years thereafter [Abstract]
2013	10,500,000		10,500,000
Pension Benefits [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	5,758,000		5,758,000		6,677,000		5,929,000
Projected future benefit payments in next fiscal year	11,333,000	[1]	11,333,000	[1]
Components of net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Service cost			545,000		517,000		450,000
Interest cost			2,346,000		2,290,000		2,490,000
Expected return on plan assets			(514,000)		(392,000)		(422,000)
Amortization of prior service cost			262,000	[2]	327,000	[2]	327,000	[2]
Recognized actuarial loss			1,738,000		1,593,000		1,385,000
Net periodic benefit cost			4,377,000		4,335,000		4,230,000
Changes in the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) [Abstract]
Prior service cost			0		0
Net actuarial loss			3,767,000		1,502,000
Amortization of prior service cost			(262,000)		(327,000)
Amortization of actuarial gain			(1,738,000)		(1,593,000)
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income			1,767,000		(418,000)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and accumulated other comprehensive income			6,144,000		3,917,000
Change in benefit obligation:
Beginning projected benefit obligation			45,636,000		42,602,000
Service cost			545,000		517,000		450,000
Interest cost			2,346,000		2,290,000		2,490,000
Actuarial loss			2,783,000		2,577,000
Benefits paid			(2,718,000)		(2,350,000)
Benefit obligation at end of year	48,592,000		48,592,000		45,636,000		42,602,000
Change in plan assets:
Beginning fair value of plan assets			6,677,000		5,929,000
Actual return on plan assets			(470,000)		1,467,000
Employer contributions			2,269,000		1,438,000
Benefits paid			(2,718,000)		(2,350,000)
Other					193,000
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	5,758,000		5,758,000		6,677,000		5,929,000
Funded status at end of year	(42,834,000)	[3]	(42,834,000)	[3]	(38,959,000)	[3]
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Accrued liabilities - payroll and related costs	(10,481,000)		(10,481,000)		(9,844,000)
Other deferred liabilities	(32,353,000)		(32,353,000)		(29,115,000)
Net amount recognized at year-end	(42,834,000)		(42,834,000)		(38,959,000)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss):
Prior service (cost) credit	(108,000)		(108,000)		(370,000)
Net actuarial loss	(22,070,000)		(22,070,000)		(20,042,000)
Total amount recognized	(22,178,000)		(22,178,000)		(20,412,000)
Estimated prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost in next fiscal year			100,000
Estimated net loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost in next fiscal year			2,300,000
Pension plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation	48,592,000		48,592,000		45,636,000
Accumulated benefit obligation	47,435,000		47,435,000		44,064,000
Fair value of plan assets	5,758,000		5,758,000		6,677,000
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)			5.30%		5.50%		6.50%
Expected return on plan assets (in hundredths)			8.00%		7.00%		8.00%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)			2.00%		2.00%		3.10%
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)	4.50%		4.50%		5.30%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	2.00%		2.00%		2.00%
Benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for five years thereafter [Abstract]
2013	11,333,000	[1]	11,333,000	[1]
2014	3,114,000		3,114,000
2015	2,351,000		2,351,000
2016	4,733,000		4,733,000
2017	4,074,000		4,074,000
2018-2022	14,712,000		14,712,000
Postretirement Medical and Life Benefits [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0		0		0		0
Projected future benefit payments in next fiscal year	135,000		135,000
Components of net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Service cost			10,000		9,000		10,000
Interest cost			71,000		75,000		85,000
Amortization of prior service cost			(55,000)	[2]	(60,000)	[2]	(64,000)	[2]
Recognized actuarial loss			136,000		112,000		102,000
Net periodic benefit cost			162,000		136,000		133,000
Changes in the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) [Abstract]
Prior service cost			0		0
Net actuarial loss			313,000		264,000
Amortization of prior service cost			55,000		60,000
Amortization of actuarial gain			(136,000)		(112,000)
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income			232,000		212,000
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and accumulated other comprehensive income			394,000		348,000
Change in benefit obligation:
Beginning projected benefit obligation			1,406,000		1,423,000
Service cost			10,000		9,000		10,000
Interest cost			71,000		75,000		85,000
Plan participant contributions			102,000
Actuarial loss			313,000		264,000
Benefits paid			(288,000)		(365,000)
Benefit obligation at end of year	1,614,000		1,614,000		1,406,000		1,423,000
Change in plan assets:
Beginning fair value of plan assets			0		0
Employer contributions			186,000		365,000
Plan participant contributions			102,000
Benefits paid			(288,000)		(365,000)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0		0		0		0
Funded status at end of year	(1,614,000)		(1,614,000)		(1,406,000)
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Accrued liabilities - payroll and related costs	(136,000)		(136,000)		(123,000)
Other deferred liabilities	(1,478,000)		(1,478,000)		(1,283,000)
Net amount recognized at year-end	(1,614,000)		(1,614,000)		(1,406,000)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss):
Prior service (cost) credit	102,000		102,000		157,000
Net actuarial loss	(1,564,000)		(1,564,000)		(1,387,000)
Total amount recognized	(1,462,000)		(1,462,000)		(1,230,000)
Estimated prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost in next fiscal year			(100,000)
Estimated net loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost in next fiscal year			200,000
Pension plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation	1,614,000		1,614,000		1,406,000
Accumulated benefit obligation	1,614,000		1,614,000		1,406,000
Fair value of plan assets	0		0		0
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)			5.30%		5.50%		6.50%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)			2.00%		2.00%		3.00%
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)	3.90%		3.90%		5.30%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	2.00%		2.00%		2.00%
Benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for five years thereafter [Abstract]
2013	135,000		135,000
2014	134,000		134,000
2015	130,000		130,000
2016	138,000		138,000
2017	135,000		135,000
2018-2022	664,000		664,000
Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Deferred Compensation Plan [Abstract]
Prepaid and other expenses	600,000		600,000		600,000
Payroll and related costs	600,000		600,000		600,000
Other assets, net	7,400,000		7,400,000		7,400,000
Other deferred liabilities	$ 8,200,000		$ 8,200,000		$ 8,200,000

[1] Estimated benefit payments for 2013 include an $8.1 million lump-sum payment to our CEO, who, as previously discussed, has announced his intention to step down in fiscal 2013 once his successor is named.

[2] Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits.

[3] The funded status reflected above includes the liabilities attributable to all of the Pension Plans but only the assets of the Retirement Plan as the other plans are not considered funded for ERISA purposes. To provide a source for the payment of benefits under the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan and the Management Retirement Plan, we own whole-life insurance contracts on some of the participants. The cash value of these policies was $27.3 million and $27.2 million at June 5, 2012 and May 31, 2011, respectively. In addition, we held in trust $0.5 million and $0.9 million of cash and cash equivalents as of June 5, 2012 and May 31, 2011, respectively, relating to these policies. We maintain a rabbi trust to hold the policies and death benefits as they are received.