An intensive lobbying effort by DC 37’s two Emergency Medical Services locals paid off Feb. 27 when the City Council unanimously passed legislation to reclassify EMS staff as uniformed workers like police and firefighters.

But the campaign hit a snag on March 20, when Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani vetoed the bill, which would change the way EMS workers negotiate their contracts. Now DC 37 and the two locals are gearing up for the campaign’s next stage, which is to lobby the City Council to overridethe veto.

For EMS workers, “uniformed status” represents much more than a change in the legal classification of their job for collective bargaining. It is a matter of dignity and respect. While their job subjects them to the same stress and physical dangers as police and other emergency employees, EMS staff have long charged that they are treated as second-class workers.

“This goes a long way toward addressing our morale problems,” said Local 2507 Patrick J. Bahnken. “Our jobs will always be stressful, but the change in status should help us improve our working conditions, which would ultimately improve services for the people of New York.”

“You were able to notice the boost in the self-esteem of members as soon as they heard about the City Council vote,” Local 3621 President Donald J. Rothschild said. “People feel recognized for their professional training and dedication.”

The City Council vote capped months of lobbying in which Local 2507 and Local 3621 members wrote, e-mailed and visited their representatives. Hundreds of them packed hearings held Feb. 20 and Feb. 27 by the City Council’s Fire and Criminal Justice Committee.

Mr. Bahnken, Mr. Rothschild and DC 37 Professional Division Director Stephanie Velez testified at the hearings on the bill.

“Uniformed status is a long overdue step toward proper recognition for EMS workers,” Ms. Velez said.

Key support came from City Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone, committee Chair Lawrence A. Warden, and Walter F. McCaffrey of Queens, who was the lead sponsor of the legislation.

Uniform status would permit EMS workers to craft contract language to deal with their unique issues. For instance, EMS workers seek more sick leave because their work makes them more prone to illnesses and injuries than other employees.

“We’ve been to prison uprisings, plane crashes, street riots, building explosions, fires and train derailments,” Mr. Rothschild testified, “but if one of us gets hurt, we do not enjoy the same benefits as our fellow emergency response providers.”