After 10 months of hearings, the Hawaii teachers union wrapped up a prohibited-practice case Thursday before the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, where it argued that the state’s decision to impose a contract in July violated members’ rights.

The conclusion came on the day that teachers began voting for a second time on a contract they had overwhelmingly rejected in January.

It’s unclear when the labor board will issue a decision in the case, which included dozens of witnesses, many of whom were kept on the stand for days.

In a news release Thursday, Gov. Neil Abercrombie called the case a "distraction."

"It has hampered our ability to move forward and has been costly for the teachers union over the last 10 months," he said.

Abercrombie said he hopes the Hawaii State Teachers Association "can now concentrate on negotiating a new contract for teachers," and urged the union to resume talks with the state.

HSTA President Wil Okabe told the Star-Advertiser in an email that the union has opted to pursue a course of "patience and clarity."

"We are committed to the patient course of defending our constitutional right to collective bargaining," he said. "The issues involved transcend our immediate dispute. These issues will impact the entire next generation of teaching professionals. These issues transcend the tenures of both this governor and this association president."

The union sought remedy through the labor board after the state in July unilaterally implemented a "last, best and final" contract offer with wage reductions and higher health insurance costs.

The state’s move was unprecedented in Hawaii public employee negotiations, and HSTA says it violated collective bargaining law.

The state, meanwhile, has argued it had to take action to preserve jobs.

The case wraps up as teachers are reconsidering the rejected contract offer that Abercrombie has said has no legal standing.

Voting on the proposal, which includes a move to a performance management system, runs through Tuesday.