Taxi strike threat to Ryder Cup
2006-08-17 11:03
Dublin - A threatened strike by Ireland's
taxi drivers next month could spell transport misery for
thousands of golf fans attending the Ryder Cup, due to begin at
the K Club near Dublin on September 22.
Some 1 000 taxi drivers, angry at plans to overhaul the
industry's fare structure, voted unanimously in favour of
industrial action at a meeting on Wednesday night.
The decision now goes to the executives of Ireland's three
main taxi unions for ratification.
"There certainly will be some upsetting of the Ryder Cup,"
President of the National Taxi Drivers Union Tommy Gorman said.
"We have a mandate from that meeting and obviously we'll
have to act on it," he told state broadcaster RTE.
Taxi drivers say they face a 10% loss of income from
plans by the country's industry regulator to impose a new fare
structure from next month.
Dublin drivers are also opposed to plans to scrap special
charges for fares and luggage on pick-ups at the city's
airport.
Up to 40 000 spectators a day are expected to attend the
36th Ryder Cup between Europe and the United States, with media
reports saying the event will generate around 130 million euros for the local economy.