News Release
Uteck Says 30,000 Students
Could Face Telephone, Internet Problems
(Tuesday, August 17/2004)-- District 13 Councillor Sue Uteck today appealed to both sides in the Aliant strike to return to the bargaining table and reach a settlement soon.
Councillor Uteck, in whose District both Saint Mary's and Dalhousie universities are located, said 30,000 students will be returning to classes in the next few weeks and the number of telephone and Internet hook-ups required will be too large for any single company to handle.
"It's not going to speak well of HRM as a "smart city" if we have thousands of students returning to classes here and they can't get computer connections to begin their academic year. Let's not forget that we are also into the hurricane season, and who knows what can happen then?" she said. "The Aliant strike has gone on long enough and both sides have to recognize that their customers are suffering too," she said.
The strike between Aliant and its 4,300 unionized employees throughout Atlantic Canada began on April 23.
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Councillor Sue Uteck
(902) 221-7651
