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

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Ritter addressed the workers publiclyafte , repeating to them as he had written in his May 19 veto of Houswe Bill 1170 that he felt that the bill would have interrupterd ongoing union negotiations with grocery-storse chains , and Albertsons. But aftef several minutes of explanation, workers began yelling, "That is a and "Sir, why did you lie?" and the governor left the "I have made my statement. Thank you very much," Ritterf said as he exitecd the packed west foyer ofthe .
Tensions between union workers and the Democratixc governor that they helpesd to elect in 2006 have been simmeringf since his veto of the bill that would haveallowec locked-out workers to collect unemployment insurance benefits. Uniteed Food and Commercial Workers UnionLocal No. 7 Presidenr Ernest Duran said that Ritterhad "betrayed" them and "reneged on his and some activists have begun looking for a candidat e to oppose Ritter in a Ritter signed 29 bills Tuesday, culminating with an evening "Help for Working Families Fair" at the Capito l in which he inked six laws to help unemployesd residents receive more benefits and keep homes from being foreclosed upon, among other things.
Leaders from several construction unions stood behinr him as he signed one of the HouseBill 1310, which allows for the easier filingy of complaints if an employer misqualifies a worker as an independent contractor. But, even before then, whilse Ritter was signing a measurwe that will allow local governments tosell low- to no-interes bonds for public construction undef the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the harangues began. Crowdc members clad in black UFCW shirtesyelled "Governor, can you explain why you vetoer House Bill 1170?" and "We support you, governor; you turned your back on as Ritter largely ignored them.
as he later signed Senate Bill 247, which increasees the number of Coloradans who qualify for unemployment insurance and will bring insome $200 millio in federal money, someone yelled: "Where was your support for the groceryu workers when you vetoed House Bill 1170, governor?" Ritter "I'm going to sign these bills, and then we'll After he finished, the governor rose to the microphond and first told the crowd how many of the new laws will help workersa affected by the He then explained that signin HB 1170 would have been akin to the government implementing new playingt rules for negotiations between the UFCW and the three grocerh chains that have been underway sincr April 9.
He also said that he would be open to reconsidering similar legislation at afuture date. He noted that a bill he signeed Tuesdayregarding electricians' education standards was similatr to one he vetoed in 2008 whilwe telling competing sides on the measured that they needed to work out a compromise -- which they did this "I also think that publicc policy should not be used to interrupyt negotiations," Ritter told the crowd, whichn included about 25 UFCW workers alony with proponents of the bills being signed. "Itr is my great hope that you're able to work this Then question-shouting began from the back. And Ritter'ds speech to the group ended.