U.S. fast-food workers stop working

Fast-food workers in the USA did not go to work on Thursday. They went on strike for more money. The workers get paid the minimum wage of $7.25. This has not changed since 2009. The workers cannot live on that. The price of everything has gone up but their wages have stayed the same for five years. The workers want $15 an hour. This is double their current rate. Julio Wilson works at a pizza restaurant. He told the BBC he earns $9 an hour. It isn't enough for himself and his five-year-old daughter. He said: "I know I'm risking my job, but it's my right to fight for what I deserve."

McDonald's and Burger King spoke about the strike. Both said higher wages would mean more expensive burgers. They said they did not make decisions about workers' pay in most of their restaurants. The restaurants are independent franchises, so the manager decides about wages. McDonald's profits were over $5.5 billion in 2011. The National Restaurant Association say wages are low because the staff are young and have little work experience. It says only five per cent of workers get the minimum wage and most of those are part-timers. It adds that half are teenagers.