Grindr Employees Launching Campaign to Form a Union
Contributed by: kellyseal on Friday, August 04 2023 @ 12:52 pm
Last modified on Friday, August 04 2023 @ 01:04 pm
A supermajority of Grindr employees have launched a campaign to form a union, announcing the plan[*1] via the Communication Workers of America (CWA) to collectively fight for layoff protections, preserve current benefits, add cost of living pay raises, and strengthen LGBTQ+ rights in the workplace, among other demands.
According to Grindr United’s press release announcing its formation, about 100 eligible members from departments across the company including cloud engineering, customer experience, design, engineering, IT, marketing, privacy, product and quality assurance signed representation cards at Grindr.
Employees are asking Grindr management to recognize their union, but if they refuse, employees will petition the National Labor Relations Board to hold an election, according to The Los Angeles Times[*2] . (U.S. Labor law allows companies to negotiate and recognize a union once they have signed up a majority of employees (which Grindr United has), or to hold out for a government-run election.)
There were both economic and civil rights concerns mentioned in the union’s announcement[*3] , specifically about Grindr CEO George Arison, who has backed anti-LGBGTQ+ politicians. This comes at a time when several states are currently rolling back laws and rights that have been in place to protect the LGBTQ+ community.
Quinn McGee, trust and safety product manager at Grindr and member of Grindr United, said in the release: “We want to make sure that our voices are being heard at the highest levels of the organization so we can work to ensure all members of the LGBTQIA+ community can experience safety and joy whether at work, on the apps, or in the real world.”
The new union called "Grindr United-CWA" was also created in part in response to the layoffs and cutbacks happening across the tech industry. The employees wanted to be proactive in ensuring they maintain their benefits and have clear severance protocols, especially now that the company is publicly traded and answers to shareholders.
Erick Cortez, knowledge specialist and member of Grindr United, said in the press release: “Through our union we will preserve and expand the things we love about Grindr, like trans-inclusive healthcare and remote work options. Additionally, we seek clear protections against layoffs in the midst of an evolving industry.”
The workers are also asking for more transparency in pay “to address wage disparities affecting marginalized communities,” which they say leads to a more fair and inclusive work environment.
Cortez went on to say: “…we want to foster a workplace where everyone can speak up without fear of retaliation and find opportunities for career growth. Together, we're committed to creating a stronger, more inclusive Grindr for workers and users.”
“As members and allies of communities that are systematically oppressed, we know that strength lies in working together, not alone,” employees behind the effort to unionize the LGBTQ dating app wrote in a mission statement, according to the Los Angeles Times. “We’re already all in this together: We just want to DTR [Define the Relationship].”