ABSTRACT
Around 3 million teachers across Europe are members of an international teacher trade union. The world-wide Education International (EI) takes responsibility for Europe as a whole and particularly the countries in Central and Eastern Europe, while the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) concentrates on relationships within the European Union. ETUCE working committees focus on higher education, equality of opportunity and teacher education. The discussion of issues relating to special educational provision are seen as an extension of equality of opportunity. One example is concern with the relative professional status and conditions of service of teachers of students identified as having special educational needs. Another is the unequal attention paid to provision for students with different kinds of perceived learning requirements. The UK government is often out of line with other European countries, for example, on its attitude towards trade unions. Using the consolidated voice of an international union may be a way for national groups to exercise greater influence.
