The American Secretary of Labor was present in Geneva between June 11 and 18, 1938. The reasons for her visit to Geneva are explained by clicking on this link. Here is her June 13 speech to the International Labor Organization transcribed in full. Note that this audio version has been edited and does not contain all the passages reproduced below:

"We are convinced that the International Labor Organization, which avoids being drawn into problems of a political character, can make a real contribution to global economic recovery by helping to eliminate errors of a social and economic character. What was once a necessity for the worker in need of better working conditions has now become a necessity for the whole world in need of real economic life. For this reason, our participation in the International Labor Organization is useful and necessary.

What was once a necessity for the worker who needed better working conditions has now become a necessity for the whole world which needs a real economic life.

It is a promise of life and future for the International Labor Office that in the face of the growing development of the needs of the whole world, its concepts and methods are also expanding. The Director rightly recalled the value of the Santiago Conference, which will no doubt serve as a precedent for future regional conferences. Likewise, a thorough technical study of the vast problems involving such important industries as textiles and coal holds promise of increasing the usefulness of your work. We are convinced of the value of discussions in tripartite technical conferences that utilize the Bureau's previous work in economic research. In addition, the decisions taken at these meetings should be followed up by the establishment of standing committees representing the industries themselves. The tripartite character of the Organization makes it possible to apply the democratic methods of negotiation and conciliation between employers' and workers' organizations, methods which are at the very center of our conception of labor policy in the United States, but which are not, in our view, exclusive of other methods.

I want to correct a misunderstanding that is fairly widespread in Europe about the state of industrial relations in the United States. I have been surprised, since my arrival in Europe, to be asked questions that might lead one to believe that the United States is in the midst of a period of violent industrial strife and social conflict.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, industrial relations in the United States are on a more stable footing today than they have been in a long time. There are probably more collective bargaining agreements in force today between employers and workers than at any other time in our country's history.

About seventy-five per cent of these collective agreements have been reached without any work stoppage. We must pay tribute here to the intelligence and goodwill of both employers and workers. Over the past five years there has been a growing understanding on the part of both management and labour of the value of collective agreements between responsible organizations. Among those who have understood this need are many of America's most successful employers...

Click on this link to read the full transcript.

Thanks to Francine Margot of Radio Télévision Suisse for the restoration of the tape containing this speech.

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