Examined are three distinct forces--teacher unions, civil rights under law, and educational strategy--which have converged on the issue of educating those handicapped learners who, with proper support resources, can be maintained in regular graded classrooms. Briefly discussed are the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA), and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) definitions of mainstreaming; the process of collective bargaining; and 1975 AFT and NEA policies. Statements on mainstreaming from CEC are included and compared to collective bargaining agreements in force in Michigan during the 1974-1975 school year and key phrases taken from AFT and NEA mainstreaming policies. (SB)