The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) is urging Philips Healthcare to finalize a first contract with 17 Field Service Engineers in San Diego. These engineers, who joined the IAM in fall 2024, are responsible for maintaining and repairing hospital imaging and diagnostic systems across San Diego and the Inland Empire. The equipment they service is vital for patient care and diagnosis.
Negotiations between the union’s bargaining committee and Philips began in January 2025. According to the IAM, Philips has resisted efforts to establish industry-standard wage structures, safety protections, and training commitments for workers who maintain CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, and other diagnostic systems at hospitals and clinics in the region.
The engineers are seeking compensation that reflects their specialized skills as well as improved pay for overnight and emergency calls. They also want paid training opportunities, enhanced safety measures, predictable schedules, and fair reimbursement for travel related to their jobs. The union says these improvements would help prevent worker burnout while supporting the critical work performed by Field Service Engineers.
IAM leaders say delays at the negotiating table are causing tension within a workforce essential to local medical infrastructure. “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 plans to continue highlighting this issue through awareness actions until an agreement is reached after nearly a year of negotiations.
“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 about 600,000 active and retired members across North America in industries including aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad transit, healthcare, automotive sectors in both the United States and Canada.
