McDonald's to face questions at annual meeting

NEW YORK - McDonald's (MCD) is set to face criticism on issues including worker pay and marketing to children at its shareholders meeting Thursday morning.

Critics plan to confront CEO Don Thompson during the question-and-answer portion of the annual event. Already on Wednesday, McDonald's closed one of its buildings in Oak Brook, Illinois, where hundreds of protesters had planned to demonstrate over the low wages paid to its workers.

Protesters targeted another site on the company's headquarters, and more than 138 were arrested for refusing to leave the property.

The protesters were out again an hour before the meeting was set to begin Thursday.

Inside the meeting, individuals affiliated with Corporate Accountability intended to once again bring up the company's marketing to children. Last year, the group made headlines after it arranged to have a 9-year-old girl ask Thompson to stop "tricking" kids into eating McDonald's food.

McDonald's representatives didn't immediately respond when asked if they planned to change the way it conducts its question-and-answer period this year. In past years, people have been able to stand and directly address executives.

Shareholder meetings offer a rare opportunity for average investors to face top executives at publicly traded companies. Public pension funds and activist groups often show up in hopes of changing corporate practices.

The McDonald's meeting is a frequent target because of the company's high profile.