Employee Retirement And Postretirement Benefits

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Employee Retirement and Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Retirement And Postretirement Benefits

9. Employee Retirement and Postretirement Benefits

We sponsor various defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, including various employee savings and profit sharing plans, and contribute to various multiemployer pension plans on behalf of our employees. Substantially all full-time union and non-union employees who have completed one or more years of service and have met other requirements pursuant to the plans are eligible to participate in one or more of these plans.

Defined Benefit Plans — The benefits under our defined benefit plans are based on years of service and employee compensation.

	Three Months Ended March 31
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	1,126		$	710
Interest cost		3,631			3,803
Expected return on plan assets		(4,402	)		(4,241	)
Amortizations:
Unrecognized transition obligation		28			28
Prior service cost		194			191
Unrecognized net loss		2,918			2,265
Net periodic benefit cost	$	3,495		$	2,756

Postretirement Benefits — Certain of our subsidiaries provide health care benefits to certain retirees who are covered under specific group contracts.

	Three Months Ended March 31
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	147	$	7
Interest cost		337		190
Amortizations:
Prior service cost/(credit)		6		(16	)
Unrecognized net loss		32		124
Net periodic benefit cost	$	522	$	305