Members of Jobs with Justice lead workers and advocates as they
protest in December for a minimum-wage increase at a
McDonald&#8217;s in Denver. Members of Jobs with Justice lead
workers and advocates as they protest in December for a minimum-
wage increase at a McDonald's in Denver. (Joe Amon, The Denver
Post)  The temperature had dropped well below zero at 5:45 a.m.
on Dec. 5. But that did not deter the group of 75 bundled-up
fast-food workers and their supporters who demonstrated in front
of the McDonald's on West Colfax Avenue in Denver for higher
wages and the right to unionize.    The wage gap between top
management and low-level employees in the fast-food industry is
one of the most egregious in the nation. The National Employment
Law Project found that in 2012, the CEO of McDonald's raked in
about $13.8 million. That is an estimated 737 times the yearly
income of his average worker.  Naturally, the National
Restaurant Association, which represents the large chains like
McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger K