Employee Retirement Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Employee Retirement Plans

Employee Retirement Plans

8.Employee Retirement Plans

The components of net periodic pension cost consist of the following:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		March 31,
	2016		2015
Component of net periodic pension cost:
Service cost	$	80	$	64
Interest cost		410		372
Expected return on plan assets		(456)		(407)
Amortization of net loss		181		255
Net periodic pension cost	$	215	$	284

The Company estimates its total required minimum contributions to its pension plans in 2016 will be $967.  During the first quarter of 2016, the Company made $193 of cash contributions to the pension plans versus $226 through the same period in 2015.

Components of net periodic other postretirement benefit cost consist of the following:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,		March 31,
	2016		2015
Component of periodic other postretirement benefit cost:
Service cost	$	53	$	57
Interest cost		70		64
Amortization of net gain		(32)		(17)
Net periodic other postretirement benefit  cost	$	91	$	104