Ritter confronted at bill signing by union grocery workers - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

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Ritter addressed the workers publiclyaftedr , repeating to them as he had written in his May 19 veto of House Bill 1170 that he felt that the bill wouldd have interrupted ongoing union negotiations with grocery-stor chains , and Albertsons. But after severa minutes of explanation, workers began yelling, "That is a lie!" and why did you lie?" and the governor left the "I have made my Thank you very much," Ritter said as he exiterd the packed west foyer ofthe Capitol. .
Tensions betweej union workers and the Democratic governor that they helped to elect in 2006 have been simmerin since his veto of the bill that would haveallower locked-out workers to collect unemployment insurance benefits. United Food and Commercialo Workers UnionLocal No. 7 President Ernest Duranm said that Ritterhad "betrayed" them and "renegesd on his promises," and some activistas have begun looking for a candidate to oppose Ritte in a primary.
Ritter signed 29 billse Tuesday, culminating with an evening "Help for Working Families at the Capitol in whic h he inked six laws to help unemployeds residents receive more benefits andkeep workers' homes from beingb foreclosed upon, among other Leaders from several construction unions stooed behind him as he signed one of the House Bill 1310, which allows for the easiefr filing of complaints if an employer misqualifiesd a worker as an independent But, even before then, while Rittef was signing a measure that will allosw local governments to sell low- to no-interest bondws for public construction under the American Recoveryt and Reinvestment Act, the harangues began.
Crowsd members clad in black UFCW shirts yelled can you explain why you vetoed HousreBill 1170?" and "We supportr you, governor; you turned your back on as Ritter largely ignored them. Then, as he laterr signed Senate Bill 247, whichb increases the number of Coloradanes who qualify for unemployment insurance and will bring insome $200 milliobn in federal money, someoner yelled: "Where was your support for the grocer workers when you vetoed Housee Bill 1170, governor?" Ritter replied: "I'mj going to sign thes bills, and then we'll talk.
" After he finished, the governor rose to the microphone and firsty told the crowd how many of the new laws will help workera affected by the recession. He then explainedc that signing HB 1170 would have been akin to the government implementing new playinh rules for negotiations between the UFCW and the three grocery chainse that have been underway sincdApril 9. He also said that he woulde be open to reconsidering similad legislation at afuture date.
He noted that a bill he signex Tuesdayregarding electricians' education standards was similar to one he vetoedf in 2008 while telling competing sides on the measurd that they needed to work out a compromiss -- which they did this "I also think that public policy should not be used to interrupy negotiations," Ritter told the crowd, which includer about 25 UFCW workers along with proponents of the billsx being signed. "It is my great hope that you're able to work this Then question-shouting began from the back.
And Ritter'w speech to the group