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This article complements an analysis of the formal texts of agreements in 111 EWCs in the metallurgical, chemical and financial sectors with an assessment of the experience of Portuguese members of these EWCs. An analysis of topics in the 111 EWC agreements reveals several difficulties with the functioning of EWCs. Beyond the texts of EWC agreements, the diversity of workers\u2019 representatives\u2019 experiences is crucial to a better understanding of how EWCs function. The final section of the article highlights several good practices experienced by (Portuguese) workers\u2019 representatives belonging to three EWC select committees in three multinationals: VW Group (metallurgical sector), Air Liquide Group (chemical sector) and Banco Esp\u00edrito Santo Group (financial sector).<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/1024258913502625","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,10,28]],"date-time":"2013-10-28T11:51:43Z","timestamp":1382961103000},"page":"553-567","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["European works councils between formal requirements and good practices: the potential for further development based on evidence from Portugal\n                    <sup>1<\/sup>"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Hermes Augusto","family":"Costa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Sociologist; Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra; Researcher at the Centre for Social Studies at the same University"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2013,10,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_3_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/102425899500100113"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_3_1","first-page":"161","volume-title":"European Trade Union Yearbook, 1999","author":"Buschak W","year":"2000","unstructured":"Buschak W (2000) Review of the EWC Directive. 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Final Research Report of the project funded by the Instituto de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Interdisciplinar da Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra: Instituto de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Interdisciplinar da Universidade de Coimbra."},{"issue":"66","key":"e_1_3_3_12_1","first-page":"101","article-title":"Perante a crise: problemas e perspectivas do emprego, do trabalho e da equidade social em Portugal","volume":"65","author":"Dornelas A","year":"2009","unstructured":"Dornelas A (2009) Perante a crise: problemas e perspectivas do emprego, do trabalho e da equidade social em Portugal. Finisterra 65 \/66: 101\u2013133.","journal-title":"Finisterra"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_13_1","volume-title":"Sociedade da austeridade e direito do trabalho de exce\u00e7\u00e3o","author":"Ferreira AC","year":"2012","unstructured":"Ferreira AC (2012) Sociedade da austeridade e direito do trabalho de exce\u00e7\u00e3o. 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