'Don't wear anything that says AIG on it': Under-fire insurer gives employees security tips as fury over bonuses grows

Lawmakers approve legislation that could see bonus payouts taxed by 90 per cent

American International Group has sent a secret memo to employees giving them security tips as fury grows in the U.S. over millions paid out in bonuses at the bailed-out insurer.

Employees were warned not to wear any clothing with the AIG logo, to travel in pairs and park in well-lit places, and to phone security if they notice anyone 'spending an inordinate amount of time near an AIG facility'.

The memo was leaked to American website Gawker.com. A spokesman for the company has confirmed it is legitimate.



A company spokesperson has confirmed that this leaked memo offering security tips to AIG employees is legitimate

It was dated Wednesday, March 18 - the morning after comedian Stephen Colbert called for an angry mob armed with pitchforks to attack AIG bosses on his satirical Comedy Central show.

AIG employees have received death threats and security staff at AIG offices have been increased in recent days as the fury over the bonuses grows.

Now labour groups are planning bus tours of AIG executives' homes, the New York Times has reported.

The Connecticut Working Families party, which has support from organised labor, is planning a bus tour of the homes on Saturday, with a stop at the company’s Wilton office.



'We’re going to be peaceful and lawful in everything we do,' Jon Green, the director of Connecticut Working Families, told the New York Times.



Anger: AIG boss Edward Liddy faces protestsors before testifying to Congress



'I know there’s a lot of anger and a lot of rage about what’s happened. We’re not looking to foment that unnecessarily, but what we want to do is give folks in Bridgeport and Hartford and other parts of Connecticut who are struggling and losing their homes and their jobs and their health insurance an opportunity to see what kinds of lifestyle billions of dollars in credit-default swaps can buy.'

Last night lawmakers approved legislation that could see the multi-million pound bonus payouts at the failed insurer taxed by a staggering 90 per cent.

President Barack Obama had described the payments as an ‘outrage’ and yesterday the House of Representatives approved legislation that could recoup most of the $165million paid to American International Group Inc employees.

The bonuses became a scandal after the insurers received a government bailout of $180billion.

'Let's go get AIG!': Stephen Colbert called for an angry pitchfork-wielding mob to attack AIG bosses on his Comedy Central show earlier this week

Yesterday lawmakers voted 328-93 for a bill to impose a 90 per cent tax on bonuses for executives whose incomes exceed $250,000. The tax would apply to executives of any company that received at least $5billion (£3.4million) in government bailout money.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi said: ‘We want our money back and we want our money back now for the taxpayers.’ In all, 243 Democrats and 85 Republicans supported the bill. It was opposed by six Democrats and 87 Republicans.

Earlier this week, President Obama said AIG’s financial woes were the result of ‘recklessness and greed’.

The bonuses relate to payments promised to about 415 employees, most of whom worked at the firm’s financial products division.

The ‘loyalty rewards’ were agreed before AIG was forced to go cap in hand to the government last year.

The government bailed out the insurer amid concerns that allowing its collapse could have far-reaching consequences and deeply worsen the global economic downturn.

The proposed legislation will move on to the Senate.

AIG boss Edward Liddy revealed this week that he has appealed to his staff to ‘do the right thing’ and voluntarily give back their bonuses.