NIKE ELIMINATES 450 U.S. WORKERS; INT'L CUTS TO BE ANNOUNCED

          Nike estimates that it will eliminate approximately 450
     U.S.-based employees, or 3.5% of its total U.S. workforce. 
     The company's Beaverton, OR, headquarters will be reduced by
     250.  Details of further job reductions outside of the U.S.
     will be made public when Nike announces third-quarter
     earnings on March 18.  Severance pay offered will range from
     two weeks to one-year's salary depending on job tenure and
     level (Nike).  In Portland, Jeff Manning wrote that the
     cutbacks are "considerably smaller than some expected." 
     Industry analysts had estimated that Nike would eliminate
     "about 1,500 jobs."  Sources say the international cuts
     "will be deeper, percentage-wise."  Nike Dir of
     Communications Lee Weinstein said that specifics will be
     released Wednesday regarding "which employees or what
     divisions will bear the most cuts" (OREGONIAN, 3/14).