Seventeen dismissed workers at the Pacific Plaza Towers were joined by 17 regular workers in holding a protest in front of the posh condominium yesterday in Taguig City.

All 34 employees who protested the non-regularization of the 17 workers are members of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP). The strike brought inconvenience on the condo dwellers, claimed the security personnel.

BMP’s Ia Maranon said the condominium’s management dismissed the 17 by claiming they had been absorbed by sub-contractor Polystar Manpower Agency as the latter’s regular employees.

The striking workers were asked by the police to vacate the entrance to the condominium, something which they did so without any incident of violence.

The strikers said they have remained contractual workers despite “performing core functions” as electricians, plumbers, masons, carpenters and air-conditioning technicians.

Pacific Plaza is home to the moneyed and influential, including politicians, captains of industries, dignitaries and showbiz personalities.

Two of the 17 dismissed by the condominium were union officers, BMP leader Judy Pastorpede said.

“Enough is enough. Our employers have pushed us against the wall. They have not only violated our rights as employees but have done everything in their power to discredit us,” said Pastorpede.

“We have patiently observed all legal procedures and requirements to bring our case to an immediate resolution but they have continued to deny our constitutionally guaranteed rights,” she added.

The union leader told the condo’s homeowners’ association that it was not their intention to hold a strike, but that the action “was forced upon us by management.”

The group also accused the condominium management of non-remittance of Social Security System, Pag-ibig, and Philhealth contributions despite deductions made on their salaries.