Phrases are a collection of nouns and verbs but in a phrase, But it does not have a subject doing the verb.

Example: leaving behind a dog, smashing into a fence, etc.

In these, we have nouns dog, fence and we have verbs leaving, smashing. But in no case, is the noun acting as a subject which is doing the verb, I.e., dog is not leaving, fence is not smashing something etc.

Now let's see a clause:

Clauses are also a collection of nouns and verbs but in clauses, the noun acts as the subject and does the verb.

Example, Since she laughs at different men is a clause because the noun "she" is acting as the subject and doing the very
B "laughs".

Another example: Because she smiled at him is a clause with she as subject and smiled as verb.

Hope this clears your doubt.

Please remember that no question is silly/stupid

Thanks for the reply. It is really helpful.

But according to you the inline statement

The workers disputed

is Phrase/Clause?

As per the information that I have provided on phrases and clauses,

The workers disputed is a clause. Here, the noun workers is the subject which is doing the predicate verb "disputed".

I hope this is clear!

Is this a grammatically correct sentence :

The workers disputed not only the magazine article but also the company's official statement.

yes this is correct