Nearly three months after the state imposed a contract offer for teachers, there is no resolution in sight to the labor dispute and a case before the Hawaii Labor Relations Board appears poised to continue for several more months.

So far, two witnesses have appeared on the stand: Board of Education Chairman Don Horner, who wrapped up his testimony Monday, and BOE member Jim Williams, who was questioned by HSTA attorney Herb Takahashi for four days. When proceedings resume Sept. 27, state Comptroller Bruce Coppa will testify on the budget issues that led to the imposed contract.

The lengthy process is generating some frustration among teachers.

Wil Okabe, Hawaii State Teachers Association president, said he is fielding concerns from teachers about how long the HLRB case is taking, something he tells them can’t be helped.

"We have no control over the time," he said. "When you’re dealing with any type of civil rights concern, the process is long."

Okabe added he can’t say how long the HLRB proceedings will last.

But there’s little doubt the case will continue before the board for months, given the number of witnesses and the complexity of the issues involved. HSTA has called some 80 witnesses alone, including the governor and legislators.

The state, meanwhile, has dozens of witnesses of its own.

The state unilaterally implemented its "last, best and final" offer July 1, imposing a 5 percent wage reduction and higher health insurance premiums for teachers in an unprecedented move in Hawaii public-sector negotiations.

The state argues the imposed offer was needed to avert layoffs, while the union says the state violated members’ rights by imposing its "last, best" offer.

HSTA has sought relief from the conditions of the imposed contract offer from the labor board, but the board has not yet issued a ruling on the matter.