Students walk out in support of teachers

By Lydia Poncé
Two hundred Venice High School students walked out of their classes in support of teachers and quality education, May 15, even as the campus sprinklers were being turned on and off.
The ‘Original Five,’ who organized the strike, called out through a small bullhorn, “We strike because our teachers can’t! We want to tell [...]

September 2008 – Presidential Campaigns Start on Labor Day – Where Will They End?

By Jack Neworth
While Labor Day is upon us, I confess that lately I’ve been doing very little “labor,” unless you count clicking a remote control. With the Olympics, the Democratic Convention, and the U.S. Open I haven’t wasted this much time since the O.J. trial. 
Labor Day isn’t really about labor anymore. It’s a day set-aside [...]

August 2008 – Venice Car Wash Workers take action to win months of back pay

By Jim Smith
After six months of having their paychecks bounce, workers at a Venice car wash had had enough. 
On July 24, the 40 workers staged a walkout and picket line in front of the misnamed the Marina Car Wash (it’s in Venice, not the Marina, at Venice Blvd. and Lincoln Blvd. 
A short time later, the [...]

May 2008 – Why May Day Matters

May Day is a truly American holiday.

It began in Chicago in 1886 with the struggle to win an 8-hour day. 
121 years later, many Venetians still do not work only eight hours a day. They work many more hours a day and more than 40 hours a week without extra compensation.
Many others in our community do [...]

May 2008 – The History Of Cinco De Mayo

By Maria Elena Montano
In the 1800’s, Mexico underwent a series of wars, bringing about political changes which affected Mexico’s government for yet another century.
After 300 years of colonial slavery New Spain declared its independence from Spain on Sept.16,1810. A war ensued on Mexican soil that lasted until 1821. Mexico was born as a constitutional democracy. [...]

April 2008 – Jane Harman Denied L.A. Labor Endorsement

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor turned thumbs down on U.S. Representative Jane Harman, who represents Venice, even though she has no opposition in the June primary.

A committee of the Federation, which represents 300,000 union members in L.A. County had recommended endorsing Harman, but the union delegates voted not to endorse by more than [...]