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Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Contingencies [Abstract]  
Contingencies
Note 16 - Contingencies

We are from time to time involved in various legal proceedings of a character normally incidental to our business. We do not believe that the outcome of these proceedings will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In addition to environmental laws that regulate our ongoing operations, we are also subject to environmental remediation liability. Under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and analogous state laws, we may be liable as a result of the release or threatened release of hazardous materials into the environment regardless of when the release occurred. We are currently involved in several matters relating to the investigation and/or remediation of locations where we have arranged for the disposal of foundry wastes. Such matters include situations in which we have been named or are believed to be potentially responsible parties in connection with the contamination of these sites. Additionally, environmental remediation may be required to address soil and groundwater contamination identified at certain of our facilities.

As of December 31, 2014, we had an environmental reserve of approximately $1.5 million, related primarily to our foundry operations. This reserve is based on management's review of potential liabilities as well as cost estimates related thereto. Any expenditures required for us to comply with applicable environmental laws and/or pay for any remediation efforts will not be reduced or otherwise affected by the existence of the environmental reserve. Our environmental reserve may not be adequate to cover our future costs related to the sites associated with the environmental reserve, and any additional costs may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. The discovery of additional environmental issues, the modification of existing laws or regulations or the promulgation of new ones, more vigorous enforcement by regulators, the imposition of joint and several liability under CERCLA or analogous state laws, or other unanticipated events could also result in a material adverse effect.

The Iron and Steel Foundry National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants ("NESHAP") was developed pursuant to Section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act and requires major sources of hazardous air pollutants to install controls representative of maximum achievable control technology. Based on currently available information, we do not anticipate material costs regarding ongoing compliance with the NESHAP; however if we are found to be out of compliance with the NESHAP, we could incur liability that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

At the Erie, Pennsylvania, facility, we have obtained an environmental insurance policy to provide coverage with respect to certain environmental liabilities.

Management does not believe that the outcome of any environmental proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

As of December 31, 2014, we had approximately 2,247 employees, of which 497 were salaried employees with the remainder paid hourly. Unions represent approximately 1,512 of our employees, which is approximately 67 percent of our total employees. Each of our unionized facilities has a separate contract with the union that represents the workers employed at such facility. The union contracts expire at various times over the next few years with the exception of our union contract that covers the hourly employees at our Monterrey, Mexico, facility, which expires on an annual basis in January unless otherwise renewed. The 2015 negotiations in Monterrey were successfully completed prior to the expiration of our union contract. In 2012, we extended the labor contract at our London, Ontario facility through March 2018.  In 2013, we successfully negotiated our collective bargaining agreement at our Brillion, Wisconsin facility, extending that agreement through June, 2018.

In 2014, we successfully negotiated new bargaining agreements for our Erie, Pennsylvania and Rockford, Illinois facilities, which will expire on September 3, 2018 and March 29, 2019, respectively.