The Hawaii Labor Relations Board made no ruling today after a hearing on whether to grant a motion from the teachers union seeking relief from the pay cuts, furloughs and higher health insurance premiums unilaterally imposed by the state July 1.

The board took a lunch break at noon, after hearing from Hawaii State Teachers Association attorney Herb Takahashi. The state responded in the afternoon.

The board took the arguments under advisement and did not say when it would make a decision.

Takahashi told the board the motion should be granted to “restore the status quo” so negotiations can continue on a new contract for teachers.

“A restoration of the status quo … is absolutely fundamental for this dispute to be resolved,” Takahashi said.

He also said the state’s position that granting the relief would result in the layoffs of as many as 800 Department of Education employees, including teachers, was akin to holding “this board hostage” and accused the state of bad-faith bargaining, threats and bullying.

The motion also seeks to compel the state to return to the bargaining table.

To receive relief, the union must show the likelihood of its complaint prevailing on the merits, irreparable harm of the state’s action and that providing relief is in the public interest.

In documents before the labor board, the state has argued that the motion should not be granted because the union has not met the test for injunctive relief.

It also said that layoffs are a reality, not a threat, if the department does not meet needed labor savings.

The DOE unilaterally implemented a 1.5 percent pay cut, furloughs on noninstructional days and increased health insurance premiums for Hawaii’s 12,500 public school teachers July 1.

HSTA has filed a prohibited practice complaint over the state’s action, which was unprecedented in Hawaii public-sector negotiations.

Hearings before the labor board on the complaint will kick off next week.