The strike by clerical staff at the Grey Bruce Health Unit is starting to take on nasty undertones after members of management and the union engaged in a war of words last week.

Grey County council's regular meeting Tuesday morning gave Medical Officer of Health Hazel Lynn an opportunity to slam the 27 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 276 that are on strike.

Lynn spoke about union "harassment" of Health Unit employees who continue to provide public services while the strike by clerical staff goes on.

"My staff is almost terrorized by this, which I think is very unfortunate. It's getting a very nasty tone," said Lynn.

The union has been on strike for two weeks now in an effort to boost pay and benefits for its members. Lynn said she was disappointed that the union had rejected the Health Unit's latest offer to settle the contract.

"We felt we dealt very fairly with them," said Lynn, who told county councillors that the Health Unit's offer would have put clerical workers into a very competitive position with other similar jobs in the area.

Lynn said the rejected offer included a three-per-cent raise for three years that would have increased hourly wages for the clerical staff to $21.73.

"It has been very unpleasant," Lynn said of the situation at the Health Unit with the strike on going.

"I don't like controversy, I don't like conflict, but I am very much not going to step down on this one," she said.

Other Health Unit staff members are still on the job providing essential public services creating the unfortunate situation of some staff members having to go through picket lines to get to work in the morning.

The union responded swiftly to Lynn's comments, suggesting that the Medical Officer of Health's comments were inaccurate and insulting to the members of the union.

Union spokeswoman Linda Owen said in a written statement that a number of Lynn's comments weren't true.

"We feel these comments by Dr. Lynn are meant to disrespect and demoralize our members and break our spirits in this bargaining process," she said. "The hourly wage that Dr. Lynn has quoted is the very top rate they offer. Starting rates remain extremely low in comparison to what is offered elsewhere across the province," she said.

Owen also accused non-union Health Unit employees and management of putting striking workers on the picket line at risk.

Owen said on May 2, a striking worker was injured by a vehicle running through the picket line.

"Three management and non-union staff members put the health and safety of these women at risk by running through our picket line with their cars. Four members were hit by these vehicles. One member was injured seriously enough to require medical treatment. This member will be pressing charges. Management is denying that these events even occurred," she said.

Talks between the Health Unit and the union have broken off and new negotiations have not been scheduled at this point.