You were upset, didnt like what was going on but wait a minute its not just you. Your colleague next to you and next cubical, down the hall. You got so upset with the way things are in the workplace you just kind of wanted to give the boss the finger and left. You wanted to make a statement because you care. And youre not really sure if you can go back in that building. A bunch of americans across this country today walked out of work, taking a chance, not sure if theyre going to have a job tomorrow with no guarantees as to whether or not theyre going to be retained. Who knows, maybe the boss went home and is looking at videotape to see whos out there. He wasnt at work, he might have been playing golf or something, you know, weathers getting nicer around the country. I congratulate all of these workers for showing some real guts. You know, all of these polls saying nobodys energized for the midterms, really . When i see what happened today i get kind of encouraged. In fact i wish the election was tomorrow. Fast food workers from around the country basically said, were really not loving it. They walked off the job for the third time this year. Ever done that . They want a livable wage. They say, no, its not 10. 10 its 15 an hour. Theyre saying look what the industry is doing. Were creating wealth. So far they havent gotten any of the wealth and probably wont anytime soon. But theyre gutsy enough to make a statement. Theyre the ones who Pay Attention and live the vulture chart. Today marks the fourth strike. Fast food workers around the country are, once again, striking and looking for a wage increase, making a statement, trying to get the country to wake up about what its all about for them. Were going to throw numbers at you tone that i want you to consume that i havent seen anywhere. This time, the movement is growing. Strikes or protests are taking place and its not just tulsa. Heck, its 150 cities across the country, and 30 Different Countries around the world. Think about that. A Global Workforce making a statement about income inequality, workers want 15 an hour, thats what they think is right. But wait a minute, they want the right to organize, you know that union stuff thats out there . Employees from mcdonalds and burger king and wendys and kfc, pizza hut, taco bell and Dunkin Donuts and dominos, all walked off the job. Thats organizing. Earlier today workers around country had no problem voicing their concerns about their current wage that simply isnt cutting it. Its not enough money to be working for 8 an hour. Thats why im here again, if i have to be twice, third time, five time, im going to be here. It would change the fact that were able to eat without asking for money from parents, families, friends, or looking for any kind of handouts whatsoever. It would cause us to be more independent in our daily lives. Ma majority of the fast food workers have to doesnt just survive off of 7. 25 they get paid. They have to apply for public assistance top be honest, taxpayers like myself and them, they are fitting the bill for tha own living. I want to start out my company but fast food, its supposed to be a starter job but it like keeps you trapped here because you cant venture out and do other stuff because youre not making enough to save. Wow doesnt sound like a bunch of takers to me. They have dreams and goals and aspirations, thats what i heard the voices. And they have a real concern about making it. Do they sound like takers to you . The average fast food worker in the country makes 8. 94 an hour. Now, this comes out to roughly 18,000 a year. Its not a livable wage, by any stretch of the imagination. We all know where republicans stand on wage increase for americans in this country. I dont think its the governments business to be setting minimum wage out there. I want people to make as much as they can. I dont think the minimum wage law works. Minimum wage is government interfering between the relationship between the employer and employee and in the end you think there should be no minimum wage . I think what we should have done is left the minimum wage alone and just let it drift away. Wow. So, we have republicans, dont you think they have to understand they are supporting government dependency, clearly this is an industry that could give an increase to these workers to get them off public assistance. A study from the university of berkeley show 52 is this good government, this government takeover, government intrusion, or do you think this is fair that 52 of fast food workers rely on government assistance, the very assistance that the ryan budget wants to cut. They dont make sense, do they . Study shows low wages for workers cost taxpayers 7 billion a year. Thats a lot of month money. Tax money that shouldnt have go where its going because the people in the top of the industry are reaping benefits. A year for programs like medicaid and food stamps. 7 billion, thats where it goes to right . If you think this is fair, i think youre wrong head on the issue. Its completely unacceptable. Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for corporate greed. And thats exactly what it is. Were not asking an industry thats struggling to help out workers to they can get off the government dole. Basically what were doing is saying, hey, life is pretty good for you folks at top. Dont you think you can give them a little bit more scratch so the rest of the taxpayers dont have to foot the bill for them so they can make it . 52 of these workers across this country rely on government assistance, does it sound good . If youre a republican it doesnt. Fast food corporations are raking in big profits, and ceos are making massive salaries. Lets break it down for you. First up, mcdonalds, mcdonalds made 5. 6 billion in profit in 2013, point out thats net income. That would be after tax. Their ceo took home a whopping 7. 7 million. Thats pretty good if you can get it. Next up, wendys. Here we go. They made 45. 5 million in profit, that too after tax. And the ceo of wendys made 5. 5 million. Must have been making hell out of the hamburgers. Dominos pizza raked in 143 million. Holefully smokes, profit in 2013. Ceo took home 10. 5 million. Finally, we have the yum foods brand, yum, yum yum. They own a number of chains, folks that could really do it, taco bell, kfc, pizza hut. The Company Brought in 1 billion in profit in 2013. Oops, i screwed up. Over 1 billion in net profit. Yum ceo took home 22 million in salary. Now, a study from demos Research Shows fast food ceos make 1,000 times more what a worker makes, thats 1,0001 ratio and these guys have nerve to say they cant afford a wage increase . No, they can afford it. Theyre well resourced to defeat it because these are folks who are against minimum wage. These are the republicans in the front office. Give me a break on all of is this. Its shock, its a disturbing example of greed and social injustice. Corporations care about one thing and one thing only and that is a return to the shareholders which, i must say as a capitalist, is important. You cant eat pr. Youve got have profit. But there has to be some social conscious somewhere amongst these corporations that clearly can afford to get these folks off government assistance. How many times have you been in a conversation where they say, well, you know, theyre really nothing but burger flippers theyre really not that skilled. Really . Is it about skill or is it about the wealth that they are creating . Dont you think that these workers finally in america, the home of the brave, land of the free and opportunity, dont you think that they deserve an opportunity to share in the wealth that they have helped create . What about wall street . What do they create . Not a whole lot. Get your cell phones out. Tonights question, do fast food corporations care more about their shareholders or their workers . Theres one for you, buzzfeed. A for shareholders, b for workers. Go to our blog. Well bring you results later on in the show. I would say that a lot of people could work in a fast food place but not everybody can own. And to be fair to workers, what they are creating iswell. They deserve an opportunity to share in that wealth and theyre being held down by the man, by the government, and this is a case where its clearly unfair that the government needs to step in and raise the minimum wage. So who made that statement . Some politicians. Today it was the workers. Those workers who dont have guaranteed contracts. Let me bring in Jennifer Epps addison, executive director of wisconsin jobs. Good to have you with us on the ed show. I know your organization was very much involved in getting these folks around your region to come out and protest. How hard was it to organize all of this . How anxious were the workers and motivated were they to get this thing done . These workers are incredibly brave. The strength and dignity it takes to walk off the job, knowing you may be retaliated against, though its well within your rights, its an incredible feat. Today in wisconsin we saw hundreds of workers walk off the job to demand 15 an hour, fair and livable wage, and right to form a union without retaliation. Folks are out there, motivated, how many times are they going to do this . I have to ask the political question, are they going to do this before the midterms . I mean, we talk about income inequality in the country. These are the folks that do go to the polls and vote. And is this going to be a motivating factor in november . I tell you, workers are motivated by folks like you, ed. In wisconsin we havent forgotten that you were the first News Reporter on the ground during our uprising in the spring of 2011. These workers see the support that they have around the country and its a motivating them to become more embolden and speak out louder. I think your not only going to see more workers go out on strike if demands are not met but workers getting engaged in all forms of the political arena. We registered 50 striking worker as deputy registrars, they can register folks in stores, coworkers, neighbors to go vote. Getting a livable wage is directly tied who is in office. Governor scott walker refuses to consider raising minimum wage even one cent. Do you think some workers will be retaliated against . Unfortunately we have seen retaliation in the past. But im excited to announce to everybody that when the Community Comes together to support these workers, when we hear about retaliation and go into the stores and tell managers that were not going to stand up for it, and were not going to take it, every single instance of retaliation that weve seen in wisconsin, we have been able to overcome and beat. When we have workers backs, they are able to exercise their rights. It is about the Community Getting out to support them. Do you believe that number 52 of fast Food Industry workers across this country are on government assistance . Absolutely. And i think that number might be a little bit low. The reality is folks get up every day and work hard. They provide Critical Services to our communities and they make billions of dollars for the corporations they work for. They deserve to have a wage that allows them to live independently, secure a piece of the american dream, without having to rely on public assistance. We have an amazing worker here, she works for popeyes corporation, and her name is miss mary. Shes 62 years old and she has to live with her children because even though shes never not had a job, hes worked every day of her adult life she cant afford to live on her own. Miss mary will tell you she would gladly trade in her quest card, the card you get food stamps, gladly trade it in if she can have a living wage. Theyre not takers. Theyre workers and they want to be treated fairly. This is a fact, there is one party out there for them and theres one party that gives them no respect. Jennifer, appreciate your time. Great work in the middle 0 the country in wisconsin. For more let me bring in minnesota congressman, Keith Ellison. Congressman, this is a movement, evolving into a movement. Absolutely. What happens going to happen here, what do you think . Well what i think is the workers are going to keep fighting until they get a fair wage and a voice on the job. They have a right to organize a union, and as everybody knows, unionized workers make more money than workers who are not in the union. Can the corporations afford 15 an hour . Can is this too much to ask absolutely. Absolutely. If the ceos making 1,000 times more than the workers, i think the ceo can he can go down to 400 more times the worker, dont you think . In 1980 the average ceo made 42 times the average worker. I think we should have legislation in congress which limits the amount of money that a ceo can make above that of the average worker. Because the truth is if we dont have some kind of legislation like that, you will will see people who are reaping dramatic benefits, 1,000 times for than the average work and the worker on public assistance just to make it. Absolutely. The public assistance, does it bother republicans that there is an enormously profitable industry out there that has 52 of its workforce on government assistance . I mean, is there any number out there that would move the republicans to realize that they need to move on this issue . Well, you know, i think there are some republicans who care and are concerned about it. Mitt romney got up and said we should increase the minimum wage the other day. Not when running for president. He did come around recent lip i didnt hear that on the campaign trail. All of these guys who arent running for office, all guys not voting, poll lenity not voting, santorum, theyre all for the minimum wage now. But when you put them on the floor, theyre not for it. Theyre simply not for it. Theyre not for it. But i want to tell you, i do believe that the Democratic Party needs to do a little bit more than stand for increasing the minimum wage to 10. 10 an hour which i support. We need to connect with workers, on the line with workers. We need to let them feel we do believe that their prosperity is a top importance to us. I think its so profound that you have washington cant get a 10. 10 but these people are willing to walk off the job saying, no its 15 bucks an hour. If washington done get the message, i dont foe what message theyll get on anything. I know you do, great work. Appreciate your time. Congressman Keith Ellison of minnesota. Answer tonights question at bottom of the screen. Share thoughts with us on twitter ed show. Should they get 15 bucks an hour . Coming up, Hillary Clintons allies and opponents are already gearing up for her likely 2016 run. But first, changing times, the sudden ouster of the New York Times executive editor brings the gender pay gap in the spotlight. Hey, i heard you guys can help me with frog protection . Sure, we help with fraud protection. If there are unauthorized purchases on your discover card, youre never held responsible. You are saying frog protection . Fraud. Frog. Fraud. I think were on the same page. At discover, we treat you like youd treat you. Fraud protection. Get it at discover. Com we tell you whats hot all the time. The trenders, join the ed team. Everybodys on the ed team, right. Facebook. Com edshow. Twitter. Com edshow and ed. Msnbc. Com. On the radio, month through friday, noon to three and radio podcast, we goted. Com. Top trenders voted on by you. Number three trender, paws off. Bakersfield boy has his best friend to thank for rushing in to save him from a vicious dog attack. Shes a hero the family cat turns out to be one california boys best friend. Boy on his bike, the dog sneaks up, grabs his leg and starts pulling him. Here comes tara. Like a lightning bolt. I think the dog didnt know what happened. Is the dog out of the way. Amazing to see a cat take on a dog and selflessly put herself out there. The number two trender, byebye barbara. The retirement of barbara walters. Im barbara wawa. Claims shes retiring friday, i dont believe it. Signs off after more than five decades on the zblar 19 4, hired at nbc as today girl. Put me on for 13 weeks and i stayed on for 13 years. Unprecedented interviews, world leaders, celebrities. Joint interview with bagen and sadat, i did huge interview with fidel castro. I thank all of you. I have been honored to share this table with you. Todays top trender, mind the gap. First woman to lead the new york time is out. Jill abramson was fired wednesday after less than three years as executive editor. The announcement didnt come with much explanation. She wasnt allowed to address staff as the announcement of her depart sheer was made. A change of management at New York Times, stirs the gender pay gap debate. Abramson reportedly challenged saltsburger when she was getting less pay and fewer benefits. Making less than fellows. She raised that issue and hired that lawyer, she was pushy. Thats something that women are confronting every day at office. Joining us, terri oneal. What jumps out at you on this story . What is most important here from all of the news reports that have been out there . You know, i think its absolutely appalling, what were learning is that in fact, Jill Abramson was tagged as being pushy because she challenged unequal pay that she felt that she was experiencing. She wanted to know the facts. We still dont know the facts. The New York Times is obfuscating whether her pay was the same as her predecessor and its outrageous. To me what jumps out is that this abrupt firing of Jill Abramson is not just aimed at Jill Abramson herself, its aim at all of the other women. What he was saying is dont you step out of line, ladies. Dont you try to see if youre get eting equal pay because we n fire you if we wanted to. Its outrageous. Lets just say that that is the way it is that she wasnt making as much as her predecessor. I surprised that she didnt know that going into it. What about the disclosure of positions . I mean most people know what the last person made when you go into i position, specially this one, with such tremendous responsibility. The reality is, ed, in workplace after workplace after workplace, in fact, corporations are allowed to make it a fireable offense to share your salary income, compensation information with your coworkers. In fact the paycheck fairness ability, a core piece of it would stop employers from keeping this veil of secrecy around total compensation practices even today tthe New York Times is te