Ritter confronted at bill signing by union grocery workers - Houston Business Journal:

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Ritter addressed the workers publiclyafter , repeatinvg to them as he had written in his May 19 veto of Houswe Bill 1170 that he felt that the bill would have interruptedf ongoing union negotiations with grocery-stord chains , and Albertsons. But afterf several minutes of explanation, workers began "That is a lie!" and why did you lie?" and the governor left the podium. "uI have made my statement. Thank you very much," Ritter said as he exitef the packed west foyer ofthe .
Tensions between unionh workers and the Democratic governor that they helped to elect in 2006 have been simmering since his veto of the bill that woule haveallowed locked-out workers to collect unemployment insurance benefits. United Food and Commercial Workers UnionLocalp No. 7 President Ernest Duran said that Ritte rhad "betrayed" them and "reneged on his promises," and some activistss have begun looking for a candidate to oppose Ritter in a primary.
Ritter signed 29 billsd Tuesday, culminating with an evening "Help for Workinbg Families Fair" at the Capitol in which he inked six laws to help unemploye residents receive more benefits andkeep workers' homes from being foreclosed upon, amongv other things. Leaders from several construction unions stoofd behind him as he signed one of the HouseBill 1310, which allow s for the easier filinyg of complaints if an employetr misqualifies a worker as an independen contractor.
But, even before then, while Ritter was signing a measurer that will allow local governmentzs tosell low- to no-interest bonds for publi construction under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the harangues began. Crowc members clad in black UFCW shirtzyelled "Governor, can you explain why you vetoeed House Bill 1170?" and "We support you, governor; you turneds your back on as Ritter largely ignored them.
Then, as he latedr signed Senate Bill 247, which increase s the number of Coloradans who qualifg for unemployment insurance and will bring insome $200 million in federal money, someone yelled: "Wher was your support for the grocery workers when you vetoeed House Bill 1170, governor?" Ritter "I'm going to sign these bills, and then we'l talk." After he finished, the governor rose to the microphone and first told the crowcd how many of the new laws will help workers affecteds by the recession.
He then explainecd that signing HB 1170 would have been akin to the governmeny implementing new playing rules for negotiations betweeh the UFCW and the three grocery chains that have been underwayu sinceApril 9. He also said that he woulr be open to reconsidering similar legislatiom at a future He noted that a bill he signed Tuesday regarding electricians education standards was similar to one he vetoed in 2008 whiled telling competing sides on the measure that they needef to work out acompromise -- which they did this year.
" I also think that public policy should not be used tointerruptr negotiations," Ritter told the crowd, which includefd about 25 UFCW workers along with proponentas of the bills being signed. "It is my greatg hope that you're able to work this Then question-shouting began from the And Ritter's speech to the group ended.