The fast-food industry is notorious for employing millions of Americans at poverty wages.

When workers make more money, they respond by being more productive in their jobs and are less likely to leave, reducing turnover costs. This puts money in business' pockets, and workers also then have more money to spend in the local economy.

When families can afford the basics, they can reinvest in their communities, and higher wages means a broader consumer base for businesses.

Today, the gap between productivity and compensation for the typical worker is larger than at any time since World War II.

Fast food also has a uniquely difficult business structure for workers to achieve better wages and working conditions.

Businesses generally deal with minimum wage increases by finding efficiencies in their business practices or slightly increasing prices if they have to, not cutting jobs. Of course: because they need staff to make their businesses run!

We've created more wealth in the past 30 years than the rest of human of human history combined. But half of Americans make less than $17 an hour.