In April 1998, a group of San Francisco, California-based lawyers filed a civil case against Nike, alleging that the firm intentionally misled California residents about its labor practices overseas. Nike attempted to change the publics' pessimistic outlook, making their practices more translucent, bringing images of safe factories to the eye of the American's as they tried to restore the faith in the company. At the American National Press Club in Washington, DC on Tuesday May 12, 1998, Phil Knight told journalist and trade union activists he would ensure improved conditions at Nike factories worldwide. He promised that all Nike Shoe factories would meet US air quality standards and that minimum age would be raised to eighteen for workers in Nike shoe factories, and to sixteen for those working in clothing factories. Nike also promised to include non-governmental organization in factory monitoring, inspections results public and expand its worker education program, with free secondary-school equivalent courses. In addition, a loan program would be expanded to benefit 4,000 families in Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan and Thailand. …
