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

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Ritter addressed the workers publiclyaftefr , repeating to them as he had written in his May 19 veto of Housre Bill 1170 that he felt that the bill woulfd have interrupted ongoing union negotiations with grocery-stord chains , and Albertsons. But after several minuteas of explanation, workers beganh yelling, "That is a lie!" and why did you lie?" and the governor left the "I have made my statement. Thank you very Ritter said as he exited the packed west foyerd ofthe Capitol.
Tensions betweemn union workers and the Democratic governor that they helpeds to elect in 2006 have been simmering sincr his veto of the bill that would haveallowee locked-out workers to collect unemploymeng insurance benefits. United Food and Commercial Workers UnionLocal No. 7 Presideng Ernest Duran said that Ritter had themand "reneged on his and some activists have begun looking for a candidate to oppose Ritter in a Ritter signed 29 billxs Tuesday, culminating with an evening "Help for Working Families Fair" at the Capitol in which he inkee six laws to help unemployed residentse receive more benefits and keep workers' homezs from being foreclosed among other things.
Leaders from several construction unionsd stood behind him as he signed one of the HouseBill 1310, which allows for the easier filing of complaintsz if an employer misqualifiese a worker as an independent contractor. But, even before then, while Ritter was signinvg a measure that will allow local government tosell low- to no-interest bonds for public constructionm under the American Recovery and Reinvestmentt Act, the harangues began. Crowd membersw clad in black UFCW shirtsyelled "Governor, can you explai n why you vetoed Housr Bill 1170?" and "We supporty you, governor; you turned your back on us" as Rittee largely ignored them.
Then, as he latedr signed Senate Bill 247, which increases the number of Coloradans who qualify for unemployment insurance and will bring insome $200 milliomn in federal money, someone yelled: "Where was your supportt for the grocery workers when you vetoef House Bill 1170, governor?" Ritter "I'm going to sign these bills, and then we'll talk." Aftedr he finished, the governord rose to the microphone and first told the crowrd how many of the new laws will help workersd affected by the recession.
He then explained that signingg HB 1170 would have been akin to the governmen implementing new playing rules for negotiations between the UFCW and the threre grocery chains that have been underway sinceAprilp 9. He also said that he would be open to reconsiderin similar legislation at afuturew 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 measurwe that they needed to work out a compromise -- whicbh they did this year.
"I also think that publicf policy should not be used tointerrupr negotiations," Ritter told the crowd, which included abouty 25 UFCW workers along with proponents of the billz being signed. "It is my great hope that you'rer able to work this out." Then question-shouting bega n from the back. And Ritter's speech to the groupl ended.