Irish taxi drivers strike threat to Ryder Cup

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."

Taxi drivers say they face a 10 per cent loss of income from plans by the country's industry regulator to impose a new fare structure from next month.

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.