Making Strides with Local 100

OCTOBER 27—It gave new meaning to mall walking.

Early on Sunday morning, hundreds of TWU Local 100 members dressed in pink gathered at Bay Plaza in the Bronx to take part in a walk through the sprawling shopping complex for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event.

Local 100 President John V. Chiarello helped to kick off the event from the stage, explaining why the union was a regular sponsor of the event.

Retirees Association staff (l-r): Shalena Lindsay, Barry Roberts, James Whalen, Carolyn Surian, and Victoria Griss

Retirees Reach Membership Milestone; Set Political Goals

OCTOBER 23—The TWU Local 100 Retirees Association has reached its highest membership numbers in 25 years.

Retirees Director James Whalen, speaking Thursday at the organization's general membership meeting at Eastwood Manor in the Bronx, said the association now claims a paying membership of 8,400 transit retirees—about a third of the total number of TWU Local 100 retirees. Association members are eligible for extra benefits, including optical and dental, and also have an organization that works to advance retiree benefits around the country.

Addressing areas of concern, Whalen told the over 300 members in attendance that the controversy over the Aetna Medicare Advantage insurance coverage seems to have ebbed, with very few complaints coming in compared to the year before. He said that both he and his wife are on the Aetna plan and they have no complaints, a conclusion echoed by Retirees Executive Board Member Kevin Harrington.

He said that the Retirees Association's recent events—including a riverboat cruise and a country outing at Krucker's Catering and Picnic Grove—had been very successful. The Association sees a steady stream of retirees and Retirees in Training (members looking to retire) in their offices on the third floor of the Union Hall at 195 Montague Street in Brooklyn. They're served by the able staff of the Association, which includes Whalen, Barry Roberts, Shalena Lindsay, Carolyn Surian, and Victoria Griss.

CED Mourns CTA Jonelle Lopez, 39

OCTOBER 22—Co-workers at the Pelham Bay terminal are fondly remembering a joyful co-worker who died at the young age of 39.

Jonelle Lopez's cause of death was an enlarged heart, also known as cardiomegaly, said CED Division Chair Robert Ruiz. Lopez passed away at home on October 14.

Lopez’s mother, Luz Yvette, said her son was proud and happy to be an employee of the MTA. A devoted father, Jonelle worked hard to build a better life for his children, Alyson, 15, and Alekzander, 10. She added that every day, he came home with stories from work—about his coworkers, customers, and the day's adventures—always finding humor in everything.

“That was Jonelle: a true jokester with a big heart and a bright spirit,” said the grieving mother.

Fellow union members may pay their respects at a funeral service to be held on Monday, October 27th, at the R.G. Ortiz Funeral Home at 22 First Avenue in Manhattan from 4PM to 8PM.