PCS Proud

David Greenall

0161 8682736

david.greenall@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

I am, like many others, one of those (un)fortunate individuals that joined the Department (Benefits Agency as it was then) as a temporary measure after University & ended up staying much longer than expected.

What kept me? People! Customers! Call them what you like, being a Crisis Loan officer in a brilliantly diverse neighborhood (Manchester Rusholme) was such a rewarding experience that I stayed for 7 years until escaping Job Centre Plus for the (apparently) greener pastures of Debt Centre Salford (now Contact Centre Trafford), where I am currently the team Leader on a Civil Litigation team, Diversity Champion, and PCS Rep (Manchester & Salford Branch).

Rusholme Benefits Agency was where I became the Harassment Officer, bringing these skills over to Debt Management until CoreCare got the contract. I can’t remember where I first discovered PCS Proud, but after attending a number of Proud courses and the excellent annual seminar, was more than happy to job-share the North West Rep position after being informed of the vacancy. Years have passed and I am still as exited about the role.

I have developed some great friendships as a result of Proud, and am currently job sharing with the increasingly energetic (and much younger) Chris Parkinson.  For a number of years I was the Chair of the DWP National Staff Network Group for Sexual Orientation, and Branch Equality Officer (both of which I have chosen to stand down from to concentrate on other priorities).

All my Union roles have grown from my initial involvement with Proud (guess you could say Proud was the seed). Becoming active within Proud was such a positive move; it has not only increased my knowledge of LGBT issues but has also made me a more confident gay man.

Outside of DWP, I have tutored courses on Avant-Garde, Underground and Cult cinema, introduced film screenings and presented seminars. I have written articles for ‘counter culture’ publications and had my own experimental films screened at festivals world-wide. I watch a lot of (strange) films, read books on murder, surgery, suffering, and art. Those who know me would probably say this is an unhealthy obsession…I agree! I am also passionate about cooking (and eating… and drinking come to think of it).

I have lived in Manchester(with my two cats, both now sadly deceased) for going on 20 years.

David Greenall

April 2012