COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2015

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of workers’ compensation collateral commitments

We have provided our insurance carriers and certain states with commitments in the form and amounts listed below (in thousands):



	September 25, 2015		December 26, 2014
Cash collateral held by insurance carriers	$	22,217	$	22,639
Cash and cash equivalents held in Trust	31,227		43,856
Investments held in Trust	116,319		90,095
Letters of credit (1)	4,240		6,513
Surety bonds (2)	16,971		16,861
Total collateral commitments	$	190,974	$	179,964


(1)	We have agreements with certain financial institutions to issue letters of credit as collateral.

(2)

Our surety bonds are issued by independent insurance companies on our behalf and bear annual fees based on a percentage of the bond, which are determined by each independent surety carrier. These fees do not exceed 2.0% of the bond amount, subject to a minimum charge. The terms of these bonds are subject to review and renewal every one to four years and most bonds can be canceled by the sureties with as little as 60 days' notice.