Tor Aspengren
Encyclopedia
Ivar Tor Aspengren was a Norwegian
laborer, trade unionist and politician for the Labour Party
. He led
the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
from 1969 to 1977.
He was born in Nydalen
, Aker
as a son of Swedish
immigrant Gothard Aspengren (1876–1925), who worked at Christiania Spigerverk
, and cleaner Thora Aspengren (1881–1961). His father died from a working accident when Tor Aspengren was eight years old. Nonetheless, he started working there at age 14, and remained there from 1931 to 1948. He joined the local trade union Norwegian Union of Iron and Metal Workers already in 1931. He also practiced workers sports in Nydalen AIL.
In 1947 he became board chairman of the Oslo
branch of the Union of Iron and Metal Workers. He was hired to work for the union in 1949. From 1949 to 1951 and 1959 to 1979 he was also a central board member of the Norwegian Labour Party
. In October 1958 he succeeded Josef Larsson
as chairman of the Union of Iron and Metal Workers, where he remained until 1966. 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.
He was married to Palma Myklebust (1913–1996), and he died in June 2004 in Oslo.
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...
laborer, 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 led
Leaders of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions was founded in 1899, and has had the following leaders:- Leaders :*1899-1900: Hans G. Jensen*1900-1901: Dines Jensen*1901-1904: Adolf Pedersen*1904-1905: Joh. Johansen*1905-1906: Adolf Pedersen*1906-1925: Ole O...
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...
from 1969 to 1977.
He was born in Nydalen
Nydalen
Nydalen is a neighbourhood in the Nordre Aker borough in northern Oslo, Norway.- History :Since the late 19th century Nydalen has been a largely industrial area...
, Aker
Aker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
as a son of Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
immigrant Gothard Aspengren (1876–1925), who worked at Christiania Spigerverk
Christiania Spigerverk
Christiania Spigerverk is a steel company which was founded in Oslo in 1853, and developed into one of the largest industrial companies in Norway. In 1972 Christiania Spigerverk fusioned with Elkem. It was sold to Norsk Jernverk in 1985, and again split out as a separate company in 1993....
, and cleaner Thora Aspengren (1881–1961). His father died from a working accident when Tor Aspengren was eight years old. Nonetheless, he started working there at age 14, and remained there from 1931 to 1948. He joined the local trade union Norwegian Union of Iron and Metal Workers already in 1931. He also practiced workers sports in Nydalen AIL.
In 1947 he became board chairman of the Oslo
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...
branch of the Union of Iron and Metal Workers. He was hired to work for the union in 1949. From 1949 to 1951 and 1959 to 1979 he was also a central board member of the Norwegian 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....
. In October 1958 he succeeded Josef Larsson
Josef Larsson
Josef Larsson was a Norwegian metal worker and trade unionist, born in Sweden. From 1931 he was a secretary for the Norwegian Union of Iron and Metalworkers...
as chairman of the Union of Iron and Metal Workers, where he remained until 1966. From 1966 to 1969 he was the deputy leader of the national trade union center
National trade union center
A national trade union center is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a single country. Nearly every country in the world has a national trade union center, and many have more than one. When there is more than one national center, it is often because of ideological differences—in some...
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...
, and from 1969 to 1977 he was their leader.
He was board chairman of Norsk Arbeiderpresse
A-pressen
A-pressen is one of the three largest media companies in Norway and was established on May 27, 1948 with the name Norsk Arbeiderpresse . It got its present name in 1994...
from 1965 to 1981 and Statens Industrifond from 1977 to 1987, board member of Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. Hydro is the fourth largest integrated aluminium company worldwide. It has operations in some 40 countries around the world and is active on all continents. The Norwegian state holds a 43.8 percent...
, Aktietrykkeriet and Norsk Jernverk
Norsk Jernverk
Norsk Jernverk is a former Norwegian industrial company which was founded in 1946 in Mo i Rana, fully owned by the State of Norway. The production started in 1955. In 1985 it acquired the steel company Christiania Spigerverk, which was later again sold out as a separate company...
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.
He was married to Palma Myklebust (1913–1996), and he died in June 2004 in Oslo.