Note 14 - Intermittent Severance Plan

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Notes to Financial Statements

Postemployment Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

(14) INTERMITTENT SEVERANCE PLAN

The Partnership sponsors a defined intermittent severance benefit plan covering employees who are members of a union bargaining unit and not covered by the defined benefit pension plan. Payment of the severance benefit is made when covered employees cease employment with the Partnership under certain terms and conditions as defined in the union bargaining agreement.

The components of net periodic intermittent severance cost consisted of the following (in thousands):

	Intermittent Severance Plan Cost
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	201 5		201 4		201 5		201 4
Service cost	$	5	$	4	$	15	$	13
Interest cost		3		4		9		12
Net periodic intermittent severance cost	$	8	$	8	$	24	$	25