Pensions and Post-retirement Benefits (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2014

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

Our net periodic pension expense (income) for the three and nine months endedAugust 31, 2014 and 2013 was comprised of the following (in thousands):

	Three months ended August 31,						Nine months ended August 31,
	2014			2013			2014			2013
Service costs incurred	$	1,516		$	2,606		$	7,609		$	7,812
Interest costs on projected benefit obligation	2,117			1,766			6,358			5,227
Expected return on plan assets	(2,088		)	(1,900		)	(6,312		)	(5,624		)
Amortization of prior service credit	(114		)	(336		)	(790		)	(1,008		)
Amortization of transitional obligation	11			—			33			—
Curtailment gain	(2,877		)	—			(2,877		)	—
Net periodic pension expense (income)	$	(1,435	)	$	2,136		$	4,021		$	6,407

Our net periodic postretirement expense was comprised of the following for the three and nine months endedAugust 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

	Three months ended August 31,				Nine months ended August 31,
	2014		2013		2014		2013
Service costs incurred	$	4	$	6	$	12	$	17
Interest costs	103		100		309		300
Net periodic postretirement expense	$	107	$	106	$	321	$	317