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Colorado: Laura Chapin

May 21, 2009 - 10:21 am
NEWS FEED: Denver Post

Unions blast Colo. gov. for vetoing lockout bill

Workers said Wednesday the governor gave grocery chains an unfair advantage in contract talks by barring them from getting benefits if they're unable to work because of labor disputes.

In a lockout, an employer bars workers from their jobs during a labor dispute. Colorado's last lockout occurred in 1996 when employees of the King Soopers grocery chain went on strike and workers at Safeway were locked out.

"Gov. Ritter has aligned himself with the greedy corporations and shown his true colors," said Arlys Carlson, a grocery worker for

State Rep. Edward Casso, D-Commerce City, speaks out about Gov.

Read More at Denver Post >
There have been 33 comments posted in response to this story.

May 21, 2009 - 10:21 am
NEWS FEED: Denver Post

Ritter vetoes labor measure

Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday issued a late-in-the-day veto of legislation that would have favored grocery store workers in ongoing negotiations over their union contracts with Colorado's major supermarket chains.

In his veto message, Ritter criticized the timing of House Bill 1170.

Grocery store chains and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7 are trying to hammer out a contract by May 30, although negotiations could be extended. The legislation would have taken effect July 1.

"The parties to these negotiations have been working hard for several months to try to reach an agreement," Ritter wrote. "I believe it is ill-advised and counterproductive to enact legislation that materially impacts the relative bargaining position of parties in the midst of ongoing negotiations.

Read More at Denver Post >
There have been 119 comments posted in response to this story.