 From 1966 to 1969 he was the deputy leader of the national trade union center Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, and from 1969 to 1977 he was their leader.He was board chairman of Norsk Arbeiderpresse from 1965 to 1981 and "Statens Industrifond" from 1977 to 1987, board member of Norsk Hydro, Aktietrykkeriet and Norsk Jernverk and from 1978 to 1987 a member of the Labour Court of Norway.From 1988 to 1991 he was a representative in Oslo city council.