. 348-50).
Dobb's successors, especially Jimmy Hoffa, also used this strategy to increase membership. Hoffa improved this method by targeting terminals that were vulnerable and using them to persuade drivers to become members. By moving from one vulnerable terminal to the next, Hoffa managed to gain an area-wide union contract. Another leader, Dave Beck, was also using the same strategy in the West. Consequently, Teamsters' membership leapt from 420,000 to 1.1 million in 1952 (Brill, 1978, p. 351).
Though labor unions were mired in corruption, many of the rank-and-file members were unaware of the behind-the-scenes deals. Teamsters' leaders would negotiate a contract that gave their members less than they should have received from the employers so that they could receive a kickback. However, the rank-and-file members did not realize that they were being exploited because they were gaining benefits themselves, in the form of increased wages and improved working conditions (Friedman & Schwarz, 1989, p. 69).
One of the reasons for the growth o
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