Pension Plans And Postretirement Benefits

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Pension Plans And Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension Plans And Postretirement Benefits

Note 18. Pension Plans and Postretirement Benefits

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic pension cost charged to operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):

		2015			2014
Components of net periodic pension cost:
Interest cost	$	3,476		$	3,774
Service cost		–			11
Expected return on plan assets		(2,690	)		(2,536	)
Actuarial losses		1,912			1,208
Net periodic pension cost	$	2,698		$	2,457

No employer contributions were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Other

We have defined contribution pension plans covering certain employees. Contributions and costs are a percent of each covered employee's salary. Amounts charged to expense related to such plans were not significant for the 2015 and 2014 periods.

We provide certain health care and other benefits to certain retired employees under plans which are currently unfunded. We pay the cost of postretirement benefits as they are incurred. Accumulated postretirement benefit obligations and amounts recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were not significant.