"small temporary rollback" to keep laundry, dietary and housekeeping jobs in-house in return for 15 months of job security. In total, 4,700 jobs were lost between August 1990 and August 1993. When Carol Ann Dean was elected president in 1992, AUPE's reserve fund had been used up. Secretary-Treasurer Ed Mardell, who was elected at the same convention and would serve until 2004, imposed an austerity program. Nevertheless, by mid-January, AUPE was over $1 million in the hole. Facing a deteriorating financial situation, AUPE's Executive called a special convention in July 1994 to seek a temporary dues increase to 1.5 percent. The resolution was defeated by a single vote and the 1994 convention had to be postponed. Privatization by the government continued in many departments, although AUPE succeeded in fighting off a plan to privatize provincial jails. The government took advantage of AUPE's weakened condition, opening bargaining in 1994 by announcing across-the-board cutbacks of five percent in the government service, plus boards and agencies that depended on government for funding. After an extended campaign, AUPE ratified agreements containing cutbacks in the order of 2.3 percent, with the remainder taken in days off and holidays. Membership continued to fall dramatically — to about 35,000 in 1995. Government service sector membership fell from more than 32,000 in 1992 to just 18,000 in March 1998. AUPE came very close to bankruptcy. However, with assistance from affiliated unions, the union was able meet its staff payroll and keep up a robust campaign against the government's agenda. In 1996, AUPE's fightback began to bear fruit. In late 1995, laundry workers at Foothills Hospital in Calgary went on a week-long wildcat strike to protest the Calgary Health Region's decision to contract out laundry services to Edmonton-based K-Bro. With massive support from other AUPE locals, unions and the Calgary public, the workers forced Premier Klein to make a concession. Soon after, Edmonton's Capital Health Authority backed off on plans to contract out many of its services. As well, while some cuts continued, the government soon backed down on other privatization moves. AUPE's Recovery — 1997 to 2006 The years 1997 to 2006 saw the rebuilding of AUPE. While membership continued to decline for the first couple of years of the decade, the basic conditions were finally reversed. A booming economy with an emerging labour shortage provided a much better climate for organizing and bargaining. AUPE flexed its collective