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Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

12.

Commitments and Contingencies:


Operating Leases


The Company leases certain warehouses, sales offices, machinery and equipment and vehicles under long-term operating lease agreements. The leases expire at various dates through 2023. In some cases the leases include options to extend. Rent and lease expense was $8.2 million, $7.5 million and $7.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.


The future annual minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:


   

2015

   

2016

   

2017

   

2018

   

2019

   

Thereafter

   

Total

 

Lease payments

  $ 5,874     $ 5,616     $ 4,709     $ 3,805     $ 2,812     $ 5,236     $ 28,052  

Commitments and Contingencies


The Company is party to various legal actions that it believes are ordinary in nature and incidental to the operation of its business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of the proceedings to which the Company is currently a party will not have a material adverse effect upon its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.


In the normal course of business, the Company periodically enters into agreements that incorporate indemnification provisions. While the maximum amount to which the Company may be exposed under such agreements cannot be estimated, it is the opinion of management that these indemnifications are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.


At December 31, 2014, approximately 317 of the hourly plant personnel are represented by nine separate collective bargaining units. The table below shows the expiration dates of the collective bargaining agreements.


Facility

Expiration date

Locust, North Carolina

 

March 4, 2015

Romeoville, Illinois

 

May 31, 2015

Minneapolis, Minnesota (coil facility)

 

September 30, 2015

Indianapolis, Indiana

 

January 29, 2016

Minneapolis, Minnesota (plate facility)

 

March 31, 2017

Detroit, Michigan

 

August 31, 2017

Duluth, Minnesota

 

December 21, 2017

St. Paul, Minnesota

 

May 25, 2018

Milan, Illinois

 

August 12, 2018