Remington Arms told its employees this morning it is freezing its pension plans beginning in January 2008, union officials said this morning.

The move means the company will not increase benefit payments to retirees after that date, The company is making the move to improve its cash reserves, said Dan Bass, international representative for the United Mine Workers of America.

The move currently affects only management employees at the company’s local plant, Bass said, because Remington must negotiate with the United Mine Workers to make any changes for unionized employees. Bass said those negotiations will begin in June 2007.