The Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) has collected $2.9 million in wages and penalties owed to 187 former tow truck drivers, dispatchers and mechanics who worked for Pride Towing in Anaheim and Stride Towing and Recovery in Oakland.

To date, 96 workers have received nearly $1.6 million in back wages and penalties, and the LCO is searching for 91 employees who worked for the companies between June 15, 2014 and February 16, 2017 to provide them with their earned wages.  

The Labor Commissioner’s Office cited the companies, owned and operated by Noel Yaqo and his son Aram Yaco, in 2017 for violations of minimum wage, overtime, meal and rest periods for 129 workers at Pride Towing and 58 workers at Stride Towing.

The citations included liquidated damages and waiting time penalties, as well as itemized wage statement violations. Once the citations were affirmed after appeal, judgments were issued for over $4.8 million.

Employees who worked for Pride Towing in Anaheim from June 15, 2014 to February 16, 2017 and for Stride Towing in Oakland from August 15, 2015 to February 16, 2017 are urged to call the LCO at (833) 526-4636 for information on how to collect their back wages.

“My office used every tool available to get owed wages to workers,” said Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower. “This case demonstrates the blatant disregard by some employers for paying judgments. Furthermore, the time it takes to recover the money creates another barrier in finding the workers. We now need the media’s help in amplifying this case to encourage workers to contact us quickly to be paid.”

187 Tow Truck Employees Recover $2.9M in Wage Theft