CHENNAI:Employee unions in Chennai are coaxing software professionals in the state to band together as the IT sector braces for a spate of layoffs caused by increasing automation and rising opposition to outsourcing in its biggest market, the US. Tamil Nadu , home to an estimated four lakh IT professionals, is witnessing increasing job losses typically among middle-level managers. Trade unions, emboldened by the experience of the manufacturing sector, where powerful unions have often negotiated tough wage deals, are finding that whipping up a similar sentiment within the glass-walled IT offices is not so easy. Forum for IT Employees (FITE) and the IT wing of the 20-yearold NDLF are now spearheading the drive to build unions within technology campuses.“Even now, mobilising support in a big way in IT is difficult,” said Kumar S, a member of NDLF-IT preparing for a demonstration this week. Both the fronts have conducted black-gag protests, sent petitions to the state labour department and even sought the inclusion of IT firms within the purview of the Industrial Disputes Act that allows “workmen” to seek the help of the government in settling disputes with the employer.NDLF has about 200 technology professionals working across the country in various software companies, as its members. The unions are of the view that massive campus recruitments, sizeable salary hikes and promotions in the sector for nearly two decades meant there was no need forunions. “Only about 15% of the people with us have openly declared that they work with us. Many members have openly stated upon enrolment that their association be kept secret,” said Kumar. In recent years, contract employment and technological disruptions like automation and new vistas such as artificial intelligence are making legacy skills redundant.FITE has been conducting discussions and film screenings in Chennai, Bengaluru and other cities. It has an online registry of over 1,000 members so far and is in the process of applying for “union” status. “There is a belief that getting another job is possible, hence unionising is not seen as necessary, and second, there is fear of getting blacklisted by the sector,” P Parimala, President for FITE, said. For the two forums, NDLF-IT and FITE, momentum has picked up in Hyderabad. The labour department of Telangana has given two weeks for Cognizant to respond to allegations of illegal termination of employees who have lodged complaints with the help of FITE. R Chandrashekhar, president of Nasscom , said: “Realignment of staff based on an appraisal system has been the norm for years.Broadly, companies have been able to communicate, some may not have done it the ideal way. It is not as though there are dramatic changes.” Also, the creation of unions may act as a deterrent to further investment in what has been an attractive sector say industry members.