Workers with more than a dozen wrecker companies contracted by the City of Jackson are on strike.
This could mean longer waits if you call for a tow truck, and it could mean traffic slow-downs for drivers trying to get around a broken-down vehicle.
“I want the public to know that yes we will pull for our regular customer,“ said Trey Ward, owner of Ward Wrecker Service. “If you call us directly we will come and get you. We’re not going to deny you service.“
Some 15 companies are involved. Workers want higher fees for the services they provide the city. These companies are on JPD’s rotation list and are called to tow vehicles that are abandoned or involved in crashes or crime scenes.
Monday members of the Jackson City Council Planning Committee approved a $10 increase in wrecker fees. It’s been $65. It would bring that up to $75 for vehicles towed to city impound lots.
The fee is $125 for vehicles taken to private lots.
The wrecker companies want $125 for all tows, which is already the going rate in cities in Rankin, Madison and Warren Counties.
Councilman Kenneth Stokes says if the wrecker services have their way, Jackson residents would also have to pay higher towing fees which he says would create a financial hardship.
“There’s no way in the city of Jackson we can allow the wrecker service to charge 100-150 dollars, plus storage,“ Stokes said. “We just can’t do it. You’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. Robbing the poor people in this city.“
The full council is set to vote on the proposed service fees next Tuesday, but the wrecker companies are not backing down until they reach a price agreement.
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