In light of the recent failure to reach an agreement over a pay increase, employees of Ramstein Air Base in Germany are launching a strike on Friday during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group currently taking place at the base, DPA news agency reported on Friday. 

"Employees of the stationed forces want to highlight their wage demands by driving to US Ramstein Air Base on Friday," Susanne Riedel, a representative of German trade union Verdi, was quoted as saying by DPA.

🇺🇦Meeting in #Ramstein: the main issue is "Leopards" for🇺🇦

A meeting of defense ministers of🇺🇦 allied countries will start today at the🇩🇪 Ramstein Air Base

The main leitmotif of the meeting will be pressure on🇩🇪 to provide🇺🇦 with Leopard2 tanks or allow other countries to do so pic.twitter.com/nMaTllknfD

— АЗОВ South (@Azovsouth) January 20, 2023

The Union and the employer had reportedly failed to negotiate a pay raise with a proposed salary increase of 4.1% over the next 14 months, including a one-off payment of 1,500 euros ($1.600) - a pay rise desperately called for in times of economic crisis and inflation. 

A meeting is currently ongoing today with defense ministers of over 50 countries participating in the event and is chaired by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

They are reportedly discussing a new package of military aid to Ukraine which includes the deliveries of armored vehicles, as well as a panoply of other arms and weapons. 

Read more: NATO chief vows more heavy weapons for Ukraine in 'crucial phase'