Video Nation

Strikes and protests are a way of life for John Tipple, he's been involved in most of the major disputes over the last four decades and the Miners' Strike of 1984-85 was one of the most important struggles for him.

John lives in Ramsey near Harwich and worked out of Parkeston Quay as part of the Merchant Navy. Being a sailor he was also a militant member of the National Union of Seamen, now the National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT).

He was part of pickets at Wivenhoe Port trying to stop the imported coal being brought into the country.

In the film John remembers the strike and the involvement of other local groups in and around Harwich.

The 1984-85 Miners' Strike led John on to other forms of political activism such as Poll Tax demonstrations.

In the 2005 General Election, John Tipple ran as a Parliamentary candidate in Harwich for Respect - the Unity Coalition.

John is a member of the Socialist Workers Party.