Ili's Work
Our Ili had a long careeer in public service, devoted to making people safer. In her time working for the Maryland Department of Labor she was instrumental supporting initiatives including: Confined Space Entry Hazards, Farm Worker/Migrant Safety, Chemical Right to Know law, Smoking Elimination in the Workplace, Child Labor Safety laws and regulations, Take Five 4 Safety. Read more about her career in a story written by her husband Dan O'Brien as well as these mentions and interviews of her's throughout the years in the news.
"Tomorrow, when Marylanders wake up, our state will be practically smoke-free," Glendening said as he signed the measure into law.
The compromise was justified, he said earlier, to give "95 to 96 percent of all workers in Maryland" a smoke-free workplace. "There's always an opportunity to come back later for the last 4 or 5 percent.”
Maryland's new law is designed to protect the health of employees, not restaurant patrons or other consumers. The state's labor department said it will accept complaints only from employees, who will be asked to write their grievance on a form. State officials then will send employers "a compliance package," advising on ways to meet the law's requirements.
Those who refuse to comply or respond will be given an initial warning, said Ileana O'Brien, deputy commissioner of labor and industry. Repeated violations could result in fines of up to $7,000, she said
Authorized in 2004, the Equal Pay Commission was organized in November 2005 (Chapter 3, Acts of Special Session of 2004). The Commission studied the extent of wage disparities between men and women, and minorities and nonminorities, in both the public and private sectors. It also considered what factors are responsible for wage disparities, how such disparities affect families and the economy, and what actions might eliminate and prevent wage disparities.
The Commission submitted its final report to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker on September 30, 2006. Authorization for the Commission ended September 30, 2006.
Ileana O'Brien Chief of Staff, Maryland Office of the Secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation; Co-chair for the Day Laborers Sub Committee of the Crossroads Commission
"Instead of being in the office at nine, day laborers are in a parking lot, hoping for a low-paying job without benefits. Join Kojo for a discussion on the efforts to create a stable and fair working environment for day laborers. "
In July 2001, the Governor and Lt. Governor convened the Crossroads Task Force to examine factors affecting the quality of life in the region where Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and the City of Takoma Park come together. That crossroads region includes areas adjacent to and encompassing the intersection of University Boulevard and New Hampshire Avenue.
The Task Force considered matters relating to transit, public safety, and day labor. Representatives from the local jurisdictions of the crossroads region, as well as from State government, served on the Task Force.
"Disproportionate number of fatal accidents on the job involving Latino workers, with 10% attributed to language barriers" - Ili quoted on the community work and work to get translated materials to workers to keep them safe
DLLR officials said regulators want to help employers prevent accidents rather than just step in to investigate incidents after the fact.“The only way we can reach the worker and impact the problem is to work through the employer community,” said Ileana O’Brien, a special assistant for DLLR.
"A grieving mother's personal appeal helped to push higher job-safetyfines through the General Assembly Monday.
"This is a good thing and, hopefully, another family will be spared this (pain)," said Joan Para, whose 21-year-old son died in a job-related accident March 19."....
"We're delighted that the bill passed," said Ileana O'Brien, state deputy commissioner of labor and industry. "I think the family's involvement was instrumental. I think it's wonderful they took such a positive approach to their son's death."