Hundreds of protesters from all over the United States walked out of their fast food jobs yesterday in hopes of securing higher wages for their future. The workers claim that they cannot live on the wages that they currently have.

The protests took place across the nation Thursday in large cities such as New York City, Boston, and Chicago. Those who partook in the protests contend that the federally-mandated minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is not enough to provide for their families.

"Most people here have a family to support, and most people here barely make enough to make ends meet,'' McDonald's employee Dwight Murray said. "We're here today because we feel like McDonald's is a $6 billion entity and it's not unfeasible for them to pay $15 an hour."

At $7.25 an hour, the workers would make $15,000 a year, which is well below the poverty line of $23,550 for a family of four. A raise to $15 an hour would more than double minimum wage workers' annual income, and many people have been working hard to see that pay increase come to fruition.

"I think it really is a sign of things to come. It sort of is the vanguard of change," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, whose organization represents 12 million workers. "More to come unless the economy starts to work, with decent standards of living and benefits."

The protesters do appear to be having an effect, too. McDonald's restaurants in Milwaukee, Detroit and St. Louis all had to at least partially close on Thursday because they did not have enough staff to compensate for the strike. So far, McDonald's is not showing any signs of worry over the protests.

"We respect our employees' rights to voice their opinions. Employees who participate in these activities and return to work are welcomed back and scheduled to work their regular shifts as usual," the company said.

McDonald's has also responded to the criticism by noting that they do not set the entry-level wages for workers at any of their franchises, instead allowing the franchise owner to determine what fair pay should be. They have also stated that they offer professional development and career advancement opportunities to those who were interested.