The trade union fraternity has been hit with another loss of one of its own.

Vice-President of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) Alvin Sinclair passed way this morning, after ailing for some time.

President General of the BITU, Kavan Gayle told The Gleaner that the contributions of Sinclair, a member of the trade union movement for more than 30 years will be missed.

It was only in December that the trade union movement was hit by the death of Lloyd Goodleigh, President of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), and a former General Secretary of the National Workers Union (NWU).

Sinclair is the fifth trade unionist to have died in just over a year.

Others are the NWU's Clive Dobson and Roosevelt Turner, as well as Trade Union Congress Head Hopeton Caven.