Sanders told shareholders that Walmart pays employees "starvation wages" and said they "need and deserve a seat at the table."

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders appeared at the Walmart Shareholders Business Meeting on June 5 and said the company pays "starvation wages" to its employees.

Sanders was invited by the workers' group United for Respect to the shareholders meeting and was given three minute to speak, according to CBS News.

The U.S. senator called on Walmart to increase wages for its employees and to allow workers to have seats on the board of directors.

"Frankly, the American people are sick and tired of subsidizing the greed of some of the largest and profitable corporations in this country," Sanders said. "They are also outraged by the grotesque level of income and wealth and inequality in America as demonstrated by the CEO of Walmart making a thousand times more than the average Walmart employee."

Sanders tweeted before the shareholders meeting that the Waltons earn $25,000 a minute while the "average Walmart employee makes $25,000 a year."

"Surely with all of that Walmart can afford to pay its employee a living wage of at least $15 an hour," Sanders said at the meeting.

Our CBS affiliate KFSM reported that Walmart countered the senator's criticism by saying employee investments include increased wages, benefits and expanded time off.

"Since the beginning, a cornerstone of Walmart's culture has been engaging frontline associates in the management of the company, and we're proud of the fact that 75% of our U.S. management associates began their career as frontline hourly associates," the company said.