Christmas message lands Boston worker in hot water

[December 28, 2011]  BOSTON (AP) -- A Boston subway dispatcher who programmed an electronic message board in a station to scroll the lyrics of "Deck the Halls" instead of the normal service announcements on Christmas Day won't face severe punishment.

Travelers seemed to get a chuckle out of the holiday levity. But Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials weren't amused and initially said the dispatcher could be strongly disciplined.

State Transportation Secretary Richard Davey told The Boston Globe on Tuesday any punishment will be light -- perhaps just a reminder not to use the signs for anything other than their real purpose.

Davey says the dispatcher is a good and long-term employee of the transit agency and meant well.

___

Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe/

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.