Grindr United-CWA Launches Fundraising Campaign to Support Workers Amid Ongoing Legal Fight

West Hollywood, Calif. – Grindr United-CWA, a union organizing with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) that is composed of current and former Grindr workers who were pushed out shortly after organizing, has launched a public fundraising campaign to raise critical funds to support union members who are continuing to struggle with hardships from being out of work for extended amounts of time.

The union includes a diverse coalition of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies who joined Grindr to build a product grounded in queer connection, joy, and safety. However, in August 2023, after announcing their intent to unionize and advocate for equitable treatment of employees and users, nearly the entire union was laid off in what Grindr United-CWA asserts was a retaliatory act by the company.

“For many of us, this wasn’t just a job—it was a calling,” said a Grindr United-CWA representative. “We believed in creating something beautiful by the queer community, for the queer community. But when we asked for fair treatment, we were shown the door.”

Over the past 18 months, many displaced workers—disproportionately queer and people of color—have faced unemployment, underemployment, and financial hardship. The union is now fighting a protracted legal battle to secure recognition, reclaim their positions, and win the back pay owed to them.

The fundraising campaign will directly support these efforts, providing financial relief for affected members and sustaining the union’s work toward a more just and inclusive tech industry. Their goals include:

• Inclusive hiring practices and meaningful representation across LGBTQIA+ identities
• A user-focused product roadmap featuring essential features like verification tools, unlimited blocks, and stronger data privacy
• Comprehensive healthcare, including gender-affirming care
• Transparent and equitable pay practices

“These demands aren’t extravagant—they’re the bare minimum. Grindr made over $300 million in revenue in 2024 while denying dignity and justice to the workers who helped build it. This is about more than Grindr. It’s about showing that queer workers cannot be silenced. That solidarity is stronger than retaliation. That we all deserve better,” said Grindr United-CWA.

This campaign is a call to the broader community—to anyone who has found love, safety, or belonging through Grindr—to stand with the people who made that possible.

To donate or learn more, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-grindr-workers-union.

Follow Grindr United-CWA on X, Instagram, and Bluesky at @grindrunited for more updates.

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About CODE-CWA

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.

About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion