Grindr United-CWA Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against Grindr’s Retaliatory Return-To-Office Announcement

Grindr management has hired known union-buster Littler Mendelson 

[WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA] - Today the Communications Workers of America, on behalf of the workers of Grindr United-CWA, have filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Grindr management. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, Grindr management announced a retaliatory Return-To-Office (RTO) policy that would impact U.S.-based workers who recently announced the formation of their union. Workers have been given a two week deadline to determine if they will commit to returning to office. This decision threatens the livelihoods of dozens of workers who do not live near their assigned team’s office. Additionally, the RTO announcement undermines the ongoing efforts of workers to form a union. Grindr management has a legal obligation, under the National Labor Relations Act, to not significantly change the working conditions of Grindr United-CWA workers until after workers win their union election and are able to directly negotiate on their labor conditions at the bargaining table. Additionally, Grindr has hired notorious union-buster Littler Mendelson, a firm behind many ongoing illegal anti-worker campaigns at Starbucks, Apple and more. 

“Since we announced our union, Grindr United-CWA, to management on July 20th, support for our union has only grown. Yesterday’s decision by management to instate a retaliatory Return-To-Office policy just underscores our need for a strong union contract to enshrine the working conditions we already enjoy at Grindr, and ensure we have a real voice in all key decision making moving forward. We, my coworkers and I, are what make Grindr so successful. That is why we have exercised our legal right to organize. Grindr management has the opportunity today to do the right thing—end their relationship with known union-buster Littler Mendelson, rescind their RTO policy, voluntarily recognize our union and meet us at the bargaining table before making any other changes to our working conditions,” said Erick Cortez, Knowledge Specialist and Organizing Committee Member of Grindr United-CWA. 

Grindr’s RTO policy places an undue burden on the company’s trans employees by forcing them to relocate and reestablish the security, health resources and more that have been painstakingly curated in their current locations. 

Workers announced their union on July 20, 2023 with supermajority support amongst the approximately 100 eligible members. Grindr United-CWA members cover various departments at Grindr, including cloud engineering, customer experience, design, engineering, IT, marketing, privacy, product, and quality assurance. By joining together in a union, workers will use their collective power to ensure Grindr remains a safe, inclusive, and thriving place for its users and workers alike.

Workers await an election date from the National Labor Relations Board, and look forward to the opportunity to establish true democracy in the workplace. 

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The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.