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Phil Knight  JUST DOING IT?
CEO Phil Knight answers questions on
Nike's new labor initiatives.

May 22, 1998

Questions asked
in this forum:

Will Nike agree to the use of a 3rd party auditor?
What is Nike's position on uninionization in their Asian factories?
How do we know the incidents in the factories are not an uncommon practice of there culture?
Do any other shoe manufacturers do it differently?
Why are you defensive when you are supplying jobs to people?
Are you providing a livable wage?
Don't you think it's a little hypocritical to be making these changes now?
How does your product get marked up so high?
Do Nike critics have another agenda?
Brian Eenigenburg of Salt Lake City, UT asks:

It is clear that you are creating jobs and helping people make a living. Your critics are creating a lot of noise, but probably very few jobs. Why don't you take a stand? You are creating jobs and helping people live better. Why don't you say that clearly and forcefully instead of being half defensive?

A Spokesperson from Nike responds:

Brian, you are correct to say we've created jobs and helped people earn a living. We have over 500,000 workers working on Nike shoes and clothes on any given day. It's also a fact that that when Nike enters a country wages increase and poverty decreases. We're not solely responsible for this development, but we play a part, and we're proud of that. We think we have said this clearly and forcefully, yet it has largely gone unreported. We will continue to strongly articulate these facts.

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