The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) has urged Philips Healthcare to reach a first contract agreement with 17 Field Service Engineers (FSEs) in San Diego. These engineers, who voted in Fall 2024 to join the IAM, maintain and repair hospital imaging and diagnostic systems throughout San Diego and the Inland Empire.
Negotiations for a first contract began in January 2025 but have not produced an agreement. According to the union, Philips Healthcare has resisted efforts to establish wage structures, safety protections, and training commitments that are standard in the industry. The engineers work on equipment such as CT scanners, MRI machines, X-ray units, and ultrasound devices used in hospitals and clinics.
The FSEs are seeking pay that reflects their specialized skills, improved compensation for overnight or emergency calls, paid training opportunities, enhanced safety measures, more predictable schedules, and better reimbursement for travel related to their jobs. The union argues these changes would help prevent burnout among workers responsible for keeping essential medical equipment operational.
IAM leaders say ongoing delays at the bargaining table are creating instability among a workforce critical to regional healthcare services. “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 IAM Union has announced plans to continue raising awareness about what it describes as a delay in securing a first contract 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 approximately 600,000 active and retired members across various sectors including aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad operations, transit systems, healthcare facilities, automotive industries as well as other fields throughout the United States and Canada.
