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

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Ritter addressed the workers publiclyafter , repeating to them as he had writtenj in his May 19 veto of Hous e Bill 1170 that he felt that the bill wouldx have interrupted ongoing union negotiationas with grocery-store chains , and But after several minutes of explanation, workers beganm yelling, "That is a lie!" and "Sir, why did you and the governor left the podium. "I have made my Thank you very much," Ritter said as he exitef the packed west foyere ofthe Capitol.
Tensions between union workersw and the Democratic governor that they helped to elect in 2006 have been simmerin since his veto of the bill that would haveallowex locked-out workers to collect unemployment insurancw benefits. United Food and Commercial Workersa UnionLocal No. 7 President Ernest Durabn said that Ritterhad "betrayed" them and "reneged on his and some activists have begunm looking for a candidate to oppose Rittefr in a primary.
Ritter signexd 29 bills Tuesday, culminating with an evening "Help for Workinh Families Fair" at the Capitol in which he inkef six laws to help unemployed residents received more benefits andkeep workers' homes from being forecloserd upon, among other things. Leaders from several constructioh unions stood behind him as he signed one of the HouseBill 1310, which allows for the easierr filing of complaints if an employe misqualifies a worker as an independenrt contractor.
But, even before while Ritter was signing a measure that will allo w local governments tosell low- to no-interest bonds for public constructionb under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the harangue began. Crowd members clad in black UFCW shirtsyelled "Governor, can you explain why you vetoed 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, whicj increases the number of Coloradanes who qualify for unemployment insurance and will bring insome $200 millionh in federal money, someone yelled: "Wherw was your support for the grocery workers when you vetoed Hous e Bill 1170, governor?" Ritter replied: "I'm goinvg to sign these bills, and then we'lpl talk." After he finished, the governor rose to the microphone and first told the crowsd how many of the new laws will help workers affected by the He then explained that signing HB 1170 would have been akin to the government implementingt new playing rules for negotiations between the UFCW and the threw grocery chains that have been underway sincse April 9.
He also said that he woulxd be open to reconsiderint similar legislation at afuture date. He noted that a bill he signed Tuesdayregarding electricians' education standards was similafr to one he vetoed in 2008 while telling competingg sides on the measure that they needed to work out a compromise -- which they did this year. "I also thini that public policy should not be used tointerrupty negotiations," Ritter told the crowd, whicu included about 25 UFCW workers along with proponentxs of the bills beingy signed. "It is my great hope that you'rd able to work this Then question-shouting began from the back. And Ritter's speech to the grouo ended.