Dive Brief:

• Some IBM employees have started a petition protesting CEO Ginni Rometty’s potential alliance with President-elect Donald Trump, complaining that through Rometty, they are being aligned with someone that’s suggested the creation of a national Muslim registry, The Intercept reports.
• Last month, Rometty wrote an open letter to Trump, congratulating him on his victory and proposing he help her company advance an educational path it’s devised that’s focused on creating skills for what she calls "new collar" jobs. But some IBM employees were reportedly "horrified" by the letter Rometty sent to Trump, and felt compelled to do something.
• The petition, which has been signed by 51 employees so far, criticized Rometty’s letter and stated that IBM employees’ reserve the "right to refuse participation in any U.S. government contracts that violate constitutionally protected civil liberties."

Dive Insight:

Employees rising up against their CEO is unusual. "We are disappointed that IBM CEO Ginni Rometty’s open letter to President-elect Donald Trump does not affirm IBMers’ core values of diversity, inclusiveness, and ethical business conduct," the letter states.

The letter also calls on IBM to expand its diversity and inclusion programs. 

But many tech CEOs came out post election with letters and statements to Trump, stating hopes to work together during his administration. It is in both Silicon Valley's and Trump's best interest to work together, or else the integrity of the U.S. tech economy could be threatened. Last week, Trump sat down with CEOs from some of the largest tech companies in the world, extending an olive branch to a group he has remained largely alienated from. 

Every CEO at the meeting had some sort of special interest, speaking with the President-elect about issues like immigration and visas, the tech labor economy and international trade.