Career
He is the current leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions. He became the leader after Gerd-Liv Valla resigned on 9 March 2007 in the aftermath of the Valla scandal. He has also represented the trade union in the National Wages Board, before becoming the trade union"s leader.
As a politician he served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway from Buskerud during the term 1985–1989.