Ritter confronted at bill signing by union grocery workers – Kansas City Business Journal:

Ritter addressed the workers publiclyafter , repeatinbg to them as he had written in his May 19 veto of Houss Bill 1170 that he felt that the bill would have interruptede ongoing union negotiations with grocery-store chains , and Albertsons. But after several minutezs of explanation, workers began "That is a lie!" and why did you and the governor leftthe "I have made my statement. Thank you very Ritter said as he exiteed the packed west foyer ofthe Capitol. .
Tensionsd between union workers and the Democratic governore that they helped to elect in 2006 have been simmering sincee his veto of the bill that would haveallowedd locked-out workers to collect unemploymentt insurance benefits. United Food and Commercialo Workers UnionLocal No. 7 President Ernesy Duran said that Ritterhad "betrayed" them and "renegedc on his promises," and some activists have begun lookinb for a candidate to oppose Ritterd in a primary.
Ritter signed 29 bills culminating with anevening "Help for Working Families at the Capitol in which he inkee six laws to help unemployedr residents receive more benefits and keep homes from being foreclosed upon, among otheer things. Leaders from several constructio unions stood behind him as he signed one of the HouseBill 1310, which allow s for the easier filing of complaints if an employere misqualifies a worker as an independent contractor. But, even beforw then, while Ritter was signing a measurs that will allow local governments tosell low- to no-interest bondz for public construction under the Americajn Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the haranguesw began.
Crowd members clad in black UFCW shirtxyelled "Governor, can you explain why you vetoed Hous e Bill 1170?" and "We support you, governor; you turned your back on as Ritter largely ignored them. as he later signed Senate Bill 247, whicjh increases the number of Coloradans who qualify for unemploymeny insurance and will bring insome $200 millioj in federal money, someone yelled: "Where was your support for the grocery workers when you vetoefd House Bill 1170, governor?" Ritter replied: "I'm goinyg to sign these bills, and then we'lkl talk.
" After he finished, the governor rose to the microphone and firs told the crowd how many of the new laws will help workere affected by the He then explained that signing HB 1170 wouldd have been akin to the government implementing new playinhg rules for negotiations between the UFCW and the threw grocery chains that have been underwa y since April 9. He also said that he wouldr be open to reconsidering similar legislation at a future He noted that a bill he signe Tuesdayregarding electricians' education standards was similar to one he vetoec in 2008 while telling competing sides on the measure that they neederd to work out a compromise — which they did this year.
"uI also think that public policy should not be used to interrupt Ritter toldthe crowd, which includeds about 25 UFCW workers along with proponentw of the bills being signed. "Iyt is my great hope that you're able to work this out." Then question-shoutiny began from the back. And Ritter'sw speech to the group ended.
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