(they could only afford such wages by raising prices—significantly. Higher prices would, in turn, drive customers away )
Actually there is another way the could do it. If you have 10 workers raise the wages of 6 or 7 and fire the other 3-4. The remaining ones will make more but have to do much more work for it.
In no way in a real world does a $15 wage for fast food workers not destroy jobs...........
That's another way the marginal or entry-level worker gets screwed. Raise the miniumum to $15 and suddenly those jobs will become attractive to a higher-calibre level of employee, whose intelligence and motivation will compensate for the additional pay. The marginal worker, or one looking to get his foot in the door, will be out-of-luck and out-of-work.