Private company

United Federation of Trade Unions

Logo: Fellesforbundet, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Trade union in Norway

The United Federation of Trade Unions (Norwegian: Fellesforbundet) is a general union in Norway. With a membership of 174,985 it is the largest private sector union in the country.2 It is headquartered in Oslo.1 It employed 184 people in 2026.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1988Founded1
  • HeadquartersOslo, Norway1
  • Websitefellesforbundet.no
  • Legal formforening/lag/innretning1
  • Kind of organizationAssociation1
  • LEI254900DHU8AZCN1IG6173
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusIssued and current3
  • Registered addressLakkegata 53, 0134 Oslo, Norway3
  • Registered withThe Brønnøysund Register Centre, 950 956 8283

The United Federation of Trade Unions (Norwegian: Fellesforbundet) is a general union in Norway. With a membership of 174,985 it is the largest private sector union in the country.2

The story

The union is affiliated with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO). The union organises mainly members in the iron and metal industry, the shipbuilding industry, graphical sector, car repair workshops, aircraft repair workshops, hotel- and restaurants, the textile industry, the shoe industry, the building trade, the building industry, the paper industry, graphical branches, fish farming, and agriculture and forestry. More than 200 different trades and occupations are covered by the union.

It was established on 8 May 1988 as a merger among:

the Garment Workers' Union (Norwegian: Bekledningsarbeiderforbundet, established 1969)

Norwegian Union of Building Industry Workers (Norwegian: Norsk Bygningsindustriarbeiderforbund, established 1923)

Norwegian Union of Iron and Metalworkers (Norwegian: Norsk Jern- og Metallarbeiderforbund, established 1891)

Norwegian Union of Paper Industry Workers (Norwegian: Norsk Papirindustriarbeiderforbund, established 1913)

the Norwegian Union of Forestry and Land Workers (Norwegian: Norsk Skog- og Landarbeiderforbund, established 1927)

The Norwegian Graphical Union (Norwegian: Norsk Grafisk Forbund, established 1882) subsequently joined in 2006 and the Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union (Norwegian: Norsk Hotell- og Restaurantarbeiderforbund, established 1932) joined in 2007. In 2019, the Norwegian Transport Workers' Union joined.

From Wikipedia’s article on United Federation of Trade Unions, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Leadership

Who has led United Federation of Trade Unions, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Acquisitions

  1. Jul 1, 2024Succeeded Norsk Kabinforening1
  2. Jun 1, 2019Succeeded Norwegian Transport Workers’ Union1
  3. Jun 1, 2007Succeeded Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union (Norway)1
  4. Jan 1, 2006Succeeded Norwegian Graphical Union1
  5. Succeeded Garment Workers' Union1
  6. Succeeded Norwegian Union of Building Industry Workers1
  7. Succeeded Norwegian Union of Forestry and Land Workers1
  8. Succeeded Norwegian Union of Iron and Metalworkers1
  9. Succeeded Norwegian Union of Paper Industry Workers1

Employees over time

  • 20261841

Timeline

  1. Aug 14, 2025New chief executive Christian Justnes becomes CEO1
  2. 2015New chief executive Jørn Eggum becomes CEO1
  3. 2007New chief executive Arve Bakke becomes CEO1
  4. 1991New chief executive Kjell Bjørndalen becomes CEO1
  5. 1988New chief executive John Stene becomes CEO1
  6. 1988Founded Founded1