Taxi strike - Drivers should strike after Ryder Cup

IT is no coincidence that a national meeting of taxi drivers voted unanimously that their next stoppage will impinge on the very prestigious Ryder Cup golf event, which will be held in this country for the first time.

The vote has yet to be ratified by the executives of the three main taxi unions, and while they are expected to endorse their members’ decision, they still have about 24 hours to consider the implications of their threatened action on the country.

Disrupting service to this major international event will do nothing to advance their dispute with Taxi Regulator Ger Deering, and is very likely to lead to public disapproval.

The three-day Ryder Cup, which takes place at the K-Club next month, is expected to generate €130 million for the Irish tourism and hospitality industries because it is expected to attract about 40,000 people every day.

It is a unique occasion with the leading European golfers vying with the best American golfers to capture the coveted trophy and the attendant honour. As such, apart from the daily attendance, it will attract huge national and international media coverage.

The union executives, while observing the wishes of their members for another stoppage, should defer it to another date to allow the Ryder Cup be held without any upset.

Earlier this month, when another stoppage was mounted by the taxi drivers, affecting Cork and Dublin airports, their pragmatic colleagues in Galway ignored it as it coincided with the famous race week.