He chaired the Norwegian Union of Railway Workers, but was imprisoned and died during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany.

Buland had been an elected politician for the Labour Party, serving in Trondheim city council from 1925 to 1930.

[1] At the time of the German invasion of Norway in 1940, Buland was still chairman of the Union of Railway Workers.

Volan cooperated and negotiated with the Nazi occupants to a certain degree,[4] but was pressured by the loosely organized Fagopposisjonen av 1940 (trade opposition of 1940), spearheaded by Håkon Meyer and Jens Tangen, who went further in stressing the importance of cooperation.

Ludvik Buland, together with the other labour leaders Josef Larsson and Harry Vestli received death sentences.

[10] The Confederation of Trade Unions were usurped by the Nazis, who installed Odd Fossum as chairman.