The City Council voted 48-0 April 25 to override Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani’s veto of legislation that would reclassify EMS staff as uniformed employees like police and firefighters. The vote followed a powerful lobbying campaign by DC 37, Emergency Medical Service Employees Local 2507 and EMS Lieutenants and Captains Local 3621.

The new law changes the bargaining status of EMS staff, but “uniformed status” also offers recognition that the danger and stress of their work is comparable to that of other emergency employees.

The council also overrode a veto of an anti-sweatshop law that requires the city to buy uniforms only from responsible manufacturers. Before the vote, DC 37 Administrator Lee Saunders spoke at a rally for the bill organized by the union Unite!