State staff vote overwhelmingly to reject decentralisation plans

STAFF at two State agencies have voted overwhelmingly to reject the Government's decentralisation plan.

At a special conference in Dublin yesterday, members of the Amicus trade union voted unanimously in favour of rejecting the controversial plan which calls for more than 10,000 civil servants to be relocated in locations throughout 25 counties.

The vote comes as preliminary Government figures show no more than 20% of those required to move have volunteered to relocate. Although union anger has been building in recent weeks, yesterday's vote marks the first time any civil service union has openly voted against the plan.