He had to persuade them not to call a strike in protest.

The union cannot legally call a strike over government plans for privatisation, but it can call action over specific workplace disputes.

When a trade union decides to call a strike, both employer and the union members lose money (and may damage the national economy).

Union officials eventually agreed not to call a strike for at least three years, and the plant reopened.

If he fails to stop it in time, the umpire will call a strike because he swung at the pitch.