 He was a secretary for the regional chapter of the Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) from 1997 to 2005.He had been a board member of his trade union chapter "Tømrernes Fagforening" in the United Federation of Trade Unions from 1984 to 1988, and secretary from 1991 to 1996.He was a deputy member of Bergen city council from 1995 to 1999.