The West Virginia Coal Forum was created in 1986 under the auspices of the Mine Safety & Technical Review Committee and at the direction of the West Virginia Legislative Committee on Coal Mining. This body was created to establish a forum for the coal industry to jointly resolve or develop technical and other issues impacting the industry, particularly those issues of an economic nature, or of maj
or significance to the coal industry. The Forum also provides a means for management and labor leaders to develop joint legislative issues and programs and to promote the coal industry. The Forum is comprised of legislative leaders, UMW district and local officials, mine operating personnel and other management representatives. The Forum is given direction and substance from a planning steering committee which meets quarterly. Northern and southern sub-groups were formed to work on regional or local issues of importance to both labor and management.
