SIPTU add to McCreevy's woes

CHARLIE McCREEVY'S decentralisation plans hit a further snag yesterday as another public sector union said the overwhelming majority of its members don't want to move from Dublin.

According to SIPTU, 95% of the workers it represents in State agencies are not interested in going along with the Minister for Finance's controversial decentralisation programme. SIPTU represents half of the 2,500 employees in State agencies and the reluctance to move in this sector follows a similar pattern in the broader public service.

Government departments have identified less than 2,000 civil servants willing to move under the landmark policy decision which requires more than 10,000 staff to relocate to 53 locations in 25 counties.