Section 706 - Prevention of unfair labor practices1. The board is empowered and directed, as hereinafter provided, to prevent any employer from engaging in any unfair labor practice. This power shall not be affected or impaired by any means of adjustment, mediation or conciliation in labor disputes that have been or may hereafter be established by law.2. Whenever a charge has been made that any employer has engaged in or is engaging in any unfair labor practice, the board or its agent shall have the power to serve upon such employer a copy of the charge that was filed with the board and a notice setting the date for the service and filing of an answer. Any such charge may be amended from time to time prior to the issuance of an order based thereon. The employer or the person so charged shall have the right to file an answer to the original or amended charge and to appear in person or otherwise to give testimony at the place and time set by the board or its agent. In the discretion of a member or agent conducting the hearing, or of the board, any other person may be allowed to intervene in the said proceeding and to present testimony. In any such proceeding the board or its agent shall not be bound by technical rules of evidence prevailing in the courts of law or equity.3. The testimony taken at the hearing shall be reduced to writing and filed with the board. Thereafter, in its discretion, the board upon notice may take further testimony or hear argument. If upon all the testimony taken the board shall determine that the respondent has engaged in or is engaging in any unfair labor practice, the board shall state its findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on such respondent an order requiring such respondent to cease and desist from such unfair labor practice, and to take such further affirmative or other action as will effectuate the policies of this article, including, but not limited to (a) withdrawal of recognition from and refraining from bargaining collectively with any employee organization or association, agency or plan defined in this article as a company union or established, maintained or assisted by any action defined in this article as an unfair labor practice; (b) awarding of back pay; (c) reinstatement with or without back pay of any employee discriminated against in violation of section seven hundred four, or maintenance of a preferential list from which such employee shall be returned to work; (d) reinstatement with or without back pay of all employees whose work has ceased or whose return to work has been delayed or prevented as the result of the aforementioned or any other unfair labor practice in respect to any employee or employees or maintenance of a preferential list from which such employees shall be returned to work. Such order may further require such person to make reports from time to time showing the extent to which the order has been complied with. If upon all the testimony the board shall be of the opinion that the person or persons named in the complaint have not engaged in or are not engaging in any such unfair labor practice, then the board shall make its findings of fact and shall issue an order dismissing the complaint.4. Until a transcript of the record in a case shall have been filed in a court, as hereinafter provided, the board may at any time, upon reasonable notice and in such manner as it shall deem proper, modify or set aside, in whole or in part, any finding or order made or issued by it.5. The board shall not require as a condition of taking action or issuing any order under this article, that employees on strike or engaged in any other lawful, concerted activity shall discontinue such strike or such activity.6. The board shall consider all complaints or petitions filed with it and conduct all proceedings under this article with all possible expedition.Amended by New York Laws 2013, ch. 148,Sec. 1, eff. 7/12/2013.