Recent television ads featuring Minnesota Senator, Norm Coleman, and Al Franken have some labor unions irritated and citizens confused.

Tiffany Tarrolly tells us what the problem is.

You may have seen ads with Franken and Coleman pretty much trash- talking each other.

But it's important to point out that these ads aren't approved by either candidate.

The ads we're talking about deal with the "Employee Free Choice Act"
They were placed by the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace and the Employee Freedom Action Committee.

According to some labor Union representatives, the message they're sending is misleading.

"The ads are an attempt by organizations that are diametrically opposed to their workers being unionized. They're just trying to distract workers from the issues at hand," said Chad McKenna, the North East Area Labor Council Field Coordinator.

The satirical ads are about federal legislation called the Employee Free Choice Act.

"Currently the system is stacked against the workers, in favor of the employers so this legislation makes it easier for workers to form unions," McKenna said.

The bill passed in the U.S. House last year with bipartisan support but was blocked by a Senate filibuster.

Coleman was one of the senators who opposed the measure.

He has said the legislation could stop workers from confidentially deciding whether they want to join a union.

Because Al Franken supports the Employee Free Choice Act, the ads portray him as a candidate who wants to take away the right for a secret ballot.

But that, opponents say is deceptive.

The bill does not eliminate the option for a secret ballot election.

Normally the employer has a decision on whether to use a secret ballot, but this legislation gives the workers more freedom in deciding how they can vote, so it actually gives them more choices.

Essentially it gives employees the right to vote on how they'll vote to organize a union.

Either by a secret ballot or a card check- off system.