The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) has called on Philips Healthcare to reach a first contract agreement with 17 Field Service Engineers in San Diego. The engineers, who voted to join the IAM in Fall 2024, maintain and repair imaging and diagnostic equipment essential for hospitals across San Diego and the Inland Empire.
Negotiations between the union bargaining committee and Philips began in January 2025. According to the IAM, Philips has resisted establishing industry-standard wage structures, safety protections, and training commitments for workers responsible for maintaining critical hospital systems such as CT, MRI, X-ray, and Ultrasound devices.
The Field Service Engineers are seeking fair pay that reflects their specialized skills, improved compensation for overnight and emergency calls, paid training opportunities, enhanced safety measures, predictable work schedules, and better reimbursement for job-related travel. The union argues these changes would help prevent worker burnout while ensuring reliable operation of medical imaging equipment vital to patient care.
IAM leaders have expressed concern that ongoing delays at the negotiating table are causing instability within this workforce segment. “These engineers are the invisible backbone of our healthcare system,” said IAM Union Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “Without them, hospitals cannot diagnose strokes, detect cancers, or deliver timely emergency care. Philips must recognize their skill, respect their critical role, and negotiate a contract that protects both workers and patients.”
The union has committed to raising awareness about what it describes as nearly a year-long delay in reaching a first contract with Philips Healthcare.
“Philips has the opportunity right now to be a leader in patient safety, worker retention, and healthcare quality,” said IAM Union District 725 Assistant Directing Business Representative Justin Mauldin. “We are urging the company to come to the table with real solutions so these workers can continue performing their life-saving roles without being stretched thin.”
The IAM Union represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members across various industries throughout North America.
