Booksellers in France are set to strike on September 8, organized by the CGT Federation Commerce and Services, to demand better wages and working conditions. The strike comes as negotiations between employee trade unions and the French Bookstore Union (SLF), which represents bookstore owners, are set to resume. These talks focus on the long-standing issue of low wages in the sector, where entry-level salaries are often just above the minimum wage, despite the variety and complexity of tasks required. According to data from the Ministry of Labor, the CGT remains the dominant union in the sector, with 48.16% of the vote in professional elections, while the French Democratic Trade Union Confederation (CFDT) has seen a notable drop in influence. The SLF has previously pointed out that raising the minimum wage has put pressure on bookstore budgets, noting that to keep current staffing levels, booksellers would need an additional 4 margin points to fund salary increases. The CGT's demands go beyond salary increases, calling for improvements to collective guarantees and the collective agreement that governs working conditions. A demonstration is planned in Paris on September 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in front of the negotiation site at 38, rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques in the 14th arrondissement. Other developments in the bookstore sector include the expansion of Aya Books, a romance bookstore based in Lille, to Marseille, and the opening of a new Anglophone romance bookstore-cafe in La Rochelle. Meanwhile, Boulinier is preparing to open its largest secondhand bookstore in Seine-et-Marne, and Gibert Barbès faces opposition to its closure plans. In the United States, publishing revenues have increased by 14% year-on-year, driven by trade books and digital audio.