"The Bituminous Coal Operators Association (BCOA) was founded in 1950 by a variety of companies to deal with the UMWA and unionizing of mines during the Change from human labor to mechanical labor.[1] The BCOA would strike deals between miners, mine companies, and coal buying companies to provide a steady flow of continuos labor and a steady purchasing price for coal. The main deal was even though some miners were being put out of work by machines the other miners would be left with a steady job and pay but agreed to not hold up progress with strikes and other union activities. In addition the BCOA hears requests from the UMWA employees for pay raises, but often results in unprotected employees being laid off after a deal has been reached. The current president of BCOA is David M young who is located at the headquarters of BCOA in Washington DC.[2] He is the main representative for the BCOA and lobbyist.
History
editBCOA was formed in 1950 as a group to negotiate with the UMWA on behalf of large coal companies located in the Appalachian region. BCOA agreed to provide job security to workers in mines who are members of BCOA and also health benefits. UMWA and BCOA came to an agreement that miners would not strike against lay offs if they were allowed health benefits. BCOA still exist today but is much smaller and is now mainly used for lobbying for important coal issues. BCOA came to an agreement with the UMWA to help 1,500 employees (approximately 25% of total employees) in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Many mines that the BCOA cannot fund or support end up getting shut down, which results in hundreds of job losses. The BCOA also protects retired workers and workers who lost their job from mine closures with benefits, if they were apart of an agreement beforehand.
Recent Lobbying Activity
edit| year | spent on lobbying | paid to others |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $28,000 | $30,000 to Forscey PLLC |
| 2014 | $208,728 | $120,000 to Forscey and Stinson, $10,000 to Tauzin Consultants |
| 2013 | $722,288 | $200,000 Forscey and Stinson, $200,000 Arent Fox LLP, $40,000 Tauzin Consultants |
| 2012 | $516,053 | $200,000 Forscey and Stinson, $20,000 Arent Fox LLP, $35,000 Tauzin Consultants |
| 2011 | $376,683 | |
| 2010 | $394,083 | |
| 2009 | $431,411 | |
| 2008 | $486,738 | |
| 2007 | $160,000 | |
| 2006 | $220,000 |
[3] The majority of this has been work on specific acts like the Safety acts ,which deals with health benefits to miners, and other smaller health acts or protection bills. The BCOA also works on an average of one land restoration act a year like the Crow Tribe Land Restoration Act which was started in 2009.[4]
contact
editAddress: 1776 I Street Northwest Suite 245 Washington, DC 20006-3703 United States
Phone: 1-202-783-3195
sources
editAlmasy, Steve. “Removing mountaintops yields coal, controversy.” CNN, Cable News Network, 14 Aug. 2011, www.cnn.com/2011/US/08/12/mountaintop.removal.mining/index.html.
United Mine Workers of America Members Ratify New Five-Year Agreement with The Bituminous Coal Operators Association. PR Newswire Association LLC, 2001.
United mine workers of America. The New proposed contract between United Mine Workers of America and the Bituminous Coal Operators' Association. Place of publication not identified] , 1978.
Putney, B. (1935). Stabilization of the bituminous coal industry. Editorial research reports 1935 (Vol. II). Washington, DC: CQ Press. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1935072400
"The Bituminous Coal Problem." Editorial Research Reports 1925, vol. III, CQ Press, 1925, p. 491. CQ Researcher, 20 Feb. 2018, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1925081500.
“Union Mine Workers Vote to Approve New Contract with Murray Energy.” Charleston Gazette-Mail, 21 Nov. 2017, www.wvgazettemail.com/news/union-mine-workers-vote-to-approve-new-contract-with-murray/article_1f799654-97ea-5b22-85ea-e2fc241e68dc.html.
“UMWA-BCOA Ratify New Agreement.” CA-Black-Transp, 6 July 2011, www.coalage.com/news/latest/1146-umwa-bcoa-ratify-new-agreement.html#.WqraHejwa00.
- ^ https://www.manta.com/c/mm28f47/bituminous-coal-operators-association-inc
- ^ https://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/companies/0288060Z:US-bituminous-coal-operators'-association-inc
- ^ “The Center for Responsive Politics.” OpenSecrets.org, The Center for Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmbills.php?id=D000047810&year=2009.
- ^ https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/280