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

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Ritter addressed the workers publiclyaftetr , repeating to them as he had writteb in his May 19 veto of House Bill 1170 that he felt that the bill woulr have interrupted ongoing unioh negotiations with grocery-store chains , and But after several minutes of workers began yelling, "That is a lie!" and why did you lie?" and the governor left the "I have made my statement. Thank you very much," Ritted said as he exited the packed west foyer ofthe .
Tensions between union workers and the Democratic governoer that they helped to elect in 2006 have been simmering since his veto of the bill that would haveallowedd locked-out workers to collect unemployment insurancd benefits. United Food and Commercial Workers UnionbLocal No. 7 President Ernest Duran said that Ritte rhad "betrayed" them and "reneged on his and some activists have begun looking for a candidater to oppose Ritter in a primary.
Ritte r signed 29 bills Tuesday, culminating with an eveningh "Help for Working Families Fair" at the Capitok in which he inked six laws to help unemployecd residents receive more benefits and keep workers homes from beingforeclosecd upon, among other things. Leaders from several constructionm unions stood behind him as he signed one of the HouseBill 1310, which allows for the easier filing of complaints if an employer misqualifies a worker as an independenty contractor.
But, even before while Ritter was signing a measurd that will allow local governments tosell low- to no-interesyt bonds for public construction under the American Recovery and Reinvestmenrt Act, the harangues began. Crowr members clad in black UFCW shirtsyellerd "Governor, can you explain why you vetoed House Bill 1170?" and "Ww support you, governor; you turned your back on as Ritter largely ignored them.
Then, as he latefr signed Senate Bill 247, which increases the numberr of Coloradans who qualify for unemployment insurancd and will bring insome $200 million in federal money, someone yelled: "Where was your support for the grocery workers when you vetoedf House Bill 1170, governor?" Ritter "I'm going to sign thesd bills, and then we'll talk." After he finished, the governore rose to the microphone and first told the crow how many of the new laws will help workersa affected by the recession.
He then explainec that signing HB 1170 would have been akin to the governmentg implementing new playing rules for negotiations betweeh the UFCW and the three grocert chains that have been underway sincdApril 9. He also said that he would be open to reconsideringh similar legislation at afuturde date. He noted that a bill he signeds Tuesdayregarding electricians' education standards was similar to one he vetoeds in 2008 while telling competingg sides on the measure that they neededf to work out a compromise -- which they did this "I also think that public policyy should not be used to interrupt negotiations," Ritter told the which included about 25 UFCW workers alonyg with proponents of the bills being signed.
"It is my great hope that you're able to work this out." Then question-shoutingh began from the back. And Ritter's speech to the group ended.