Gunnar Ousland
Encyclopedia
Gunnar Ousland was a Norwegian
editor, writer, trade unionist and politician for the Labour Party
. He started out as a temperance activist and trade unionist before serving as a politician and in the party press. He edited several magazines and newspapers, including an illegal newspaper during World War II. He was later one of the proponents for the Common Program, and wrote historical books.
in Vest-Agder
, the youngest of 11 children of Henrik Tormundsen (1828-1998) and Gunhild Tomine Taraldsdatter (1835-1993). He finished a typographer's education in 1897 and went to Oslo, where he became a member of the typographers' union. He soon began a friendship and professional relationship with fellow typographer Ole O. Lian. In 1898 they founded the Gutenberg Lodge of the IOGT. When in 1907 Lian became chairman of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
, Ousland succeeded him as manager of the union Norsk Centralforening for Boktrykkere. Ousland acted informally as Lian's closest adviser until Lian died.
Ousland was the editor of the union magazine Typografiske Meddelelser 1906 and the temperance magazine Vort Arbeide from 1907 to 1912. In 1911 he was hired in Social-Demokraten
. He was the editor-in-chief of Vestfold Social-Demokrat from 1921 to 1926 and Bergens Social-Demokrat
from 1926 to 1927, then Bergens Arbeiderblad from 1927 to 1939.
Ousland served as a member of Kristiania
city council from 1911 to 1921, and chaired Kristiania Labour Party from 1912 to 1920. In 1921 he was hesitant to join the new party Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway
, as he did not want to split the Labour Party, but he eventually did join it. He rejoined the Labour Party when the two parties merged in 1927.
Ousland stood for parliamentary election several times without succeeding. In the Norwegian parliamentary election, 1912
he stood in the single-member constituency Hammersborg with Martha Tynæs as deputy. Ousland was defeated by Conservative candidate Olaf Fredrik Rustad with 3,988 to 4,957 votes in the first round; 4,779 to 5,235 in the second. In 1918
the constituency was again carried by Rustad. This time Ousland had been deputy candidate behind Jacob Vidnes
.
, Ousland edited the illegal newspaper Fri Fagbevegelse from early 1944 to August 1944. It was published out of Drammen
. He succeeded Alfred B. Skar
and was succeeded by Inge Scheflo. In 1944–1945 he was one of the proponents for the Common Program. The program was given the green light by Sverre Iversen
, Labour Party politician and member of Kretsen, and was made by Ousland and three bourgeois politicians, first and foremost Herman Smitt Ingebretsen
. It built on the so-called Blåboka, "The Blue Book", written by leading politician Haakon Lie
in exile in England.
After the Second World War, the Common Program was manifested in Gerhardsen's First Cabinet. He wrote the book Fellesprogrammet. Hvordan det ble til – og hvordan det blir ført ut i livet about the Common Program in 1947, and also published several books about trade unions. His main work was Fagorganisasjonen i Norge, about trade unions in Norway, first published in 1927. In 1949 it was expanded from one to four volumes and re-released. Ousland wrote three of the four volumes. He wrote a book about contemporary challenges, Fagorganisasjonens problemstilling i dag in 1946, and the union history Norsk Treindustriarbeiderforbund 50 år in 1954.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
editor, writer, trade unionist and politician for the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. He started out as a temperance activist and trade unionist before serving as a politician and in the party press. He edited several magazines and newspapers, including an illegal newspaper during World War II. He was later one of the proponents for the Common Program, and wrote historical books.
Early life and pre-WWII career
He was born in HalseHalse og Harkmark
Halse og Harkmark is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Mandal. When it was a municipality, it encompassed the rural areas that surrounded the city of Mandal, including many islands such as Hille, Skjernøy, and Pysen .-Name:Halse...
in Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
, the youngest of 11 children of Henrik Tormundsen (1828-1998) and Gunhild Tomine Taraldsdatter (1835-1993). He finished a typographer's education in 1897 and went to Oslo, where he became a member of the typographers' union. He soon began a friendship and professional relationship with fellow typographer Ole O. Lian. In 1898 they founded the Gutenberg Lodge of the IOGT. When in 1907 Lian became chairman of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions is a national trade union center, decidedly the largest and probably the most influential umbrella organization of labour unions in Norway. The 21 national unions affiliated to the LO have more than 850,000 members of a Norwegian population of 4.8 million...
, Ousland succeeded him as manager of the union Norsk Centralforening for Boktrykkere. Ousland acted informally as Lian's closest adviser until Lian died.
Ousland was the editor of the union magazine Typografiske Meddelelser 1906 and the temperance magazine Vort Arbeide from 1907 to 1912. In 1911 he was hired in Social-Demokraten
Dagsavisen
Dagsavisen is a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway. The former party organ of the Norwegian Labour Party, the ties loosened over time from 1975 to 1999, and it is now fully independent...
. He was the editor-in-chief of Vestfold Social-Demokrat from 1921 to 1926 and Bergens Social-Demokrat
Bergens Social-Demokrat
Bergens Social-Demokrat was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Bergen.It was started on 15 May 1922 as an organ for the Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway, who broke away from the Labour Party in 1921. From 1 April 1924 it was published daily, but in 1925 it reverted to being published twice...
from 1926 to 1927, then Bergens Arbeiderblad from 1927 to 1939.
Ousland served as a member of Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
city council from 1911 to 1921, and chaired Kristiania Labour Party from 1912 to 1920. In 1921 he was hesitant to join the new party Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway
Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway
The Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway was a Norwegian political party in the 1920s. Following the Labour Party's entry into the Comintern in 1919, its right wing left the party to form the Social Democratic Labour Party in 1921...
, as he did not want to split the Labour Party, but he eventually did join it. He rejoined the Labour Party when the two parties merged in 1927.
Ousland stood for parliamentary election several times without succeeding. In the Norwegian parliamentary election, 1912
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1912
-Results: Liberal Left Party is part of coalition with Conservative Party Labour Democrats is part of coalition with Liberal Party-References:**...
he stood in the single-member constituency Hammersborg with Martha Tynæs as deputy. Ousland was defeated by Conservative candidate Olaf Fredrik Rustad with 3,988 to 4,957 votes in the first round; 4,779 to 5,235 in the second. In 1918
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1918
-Results: Liberal Left Party is part of coalition with Conservative Party-References:**...
the constituency was again carried by Rustad. This time Ousland had been deputy candidate behind Jacob Vidnes
Jacob Vidnes
Jacob Laurentius Vidnes was a Norwegian trade unionist, newspaper editor and politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Vanylven. In 1900 he was a co-founder of Kristiania socialdemokratiske Ungdomslag, for which he served as the first chairman. In 1909 he founded the trade union Norges...
.
WWII and post-war career
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyOccupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, Ousland edited the illegal newspaper Fri Fagbevegelse from early 1944 to August 1944. It was published out of Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
. He succeeded Alfred B. Skar
Alfred B. Skar
Alfred B. Skar was a Norwegian newspaper editor, writer, trade unionist and politician for the Labour and Communist parties....
and was succeeded by Inge Scheflo. In 1944–1945 he was one of the proponents for the Common Program. The program was given the green light by Sverre Iversen
Sverre Iversen
Sverre Johan Iversen was Norwegian trade unionist, civil servant and politician for the Labour and Social Democratic Labour parties....
, Labour Party politician and member of Kretsen, and was made by Ousland and three bourgeois politicians, first and foremost Herman Smitt Ingebretsen
Herman Smitt Ingebretsen
Herman Smitt Ingebretsen was a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party. He was the Secretary-General of the Conservative Party 1936–1940.He was born in Kristiansand....
. It built on the so-called Blåboka, "The Blue Book", written by leading politician Haakon Lie
Haakon Lie
Haakon Lie was a Norwegian politician who served as party secretary for the Norwegian Labour Party from 1945 to 1969. Coming from humble origins, he became involved in the labour movement at an early age, and quickly rose in the party system...
in exile in England.
After the Second World War, the Common Program was manifested in Gerhardsen's First Cabinet. He wrote the book Fellesprogrammet. Hvordan det ble til – og hvordan det blir ført ut i livet about the Common Program in 1947, and also published several books about trade unions. His main work was Fagorganisasjonen i Norge, about trade unions in Norway, first published in 1927. In 1949 it was expanded from one to four volumes and re-released. Ousland wrote three of the four volumes. He wrote a book about contemporary challenges, Fagorganisasjonens problemstilling i dag in 1946, and the union history Norsk Treindustriarbeiderforbund 50 år in 1954.