Employee Benefits

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Employee Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Benefits

Note 11.    Employee Benefits

The components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) for our defined benefit plans and postretirement benefit plans for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
Pension benefits	2013			2012
Service cost	$	45		$	33
Interest cost		59			47
Amortization of prior service cost		7			28
Actuarial net loss		174			65
Net periodic benefit cost	$	285		$	173
Postretirement benefits
Service cost	$	1		$	1
Interest cost		9			25
Amortization of prior service cost		(1,087	)		(1,224	)
Actuarial net loss		611			648
Net periodic benefit credit	$	(466	)	$	(550	)

For the three months ended March 31, 2013, we made employee benefit contributions of $0.3 million related to our postretirement plans.  Based on current actuarial estimates, we believe we will be required to make approximately $1.9 million in contributions for 2013.

We maintain a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") for key employees. Under the plan, these employees may elect to defer a portion of their compensation and, in addition, we may at our discretion make contributions to the plan on behalf of the employees.  In March 2013, contributions of $0.5 million were made related to calendar year 2012.

We also have an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust for employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.  In connection therewith, we maintain an employee benefits trust to which we contribute shares of treasury stock.  We are authorized to instruct the trustees to distribute such shares toward the satisfaction of our future obligations under the plan. The shares held in trust are not considered outstanding for purposes of calculating earnings per share until they are committed to be released.  The trustees will vote the shares in accordance with their fiduciary duties.  During the three months ended March 31, 2013, we contributed to the trust an additional 182,000 shares from our treasury and released 182,500 shares from the trust leaving 430 shares remaining in the trust as of March 31, 2013.