“They just come in and dropped a bombshell,” he said of management’s announcement on Thursday the plant has to prove its viability to secure future contracts.

“Everyone is talking about it but we just need the time to digest it.”

Mr Morgan and 600 fellow works were told by management the study to be undertaken in the next few months is to determine the economics of building the next generation of newly designed eco-friendly fridges at the Orange plant, however it will be competing with sites in Asia and other parts of the world.

Mr Morgan said when the highly successful Ophir project was implemented at the Orange plant 10 years ago with a $25 million injection of funds to modernise and produce new design fridges, it was implemented without debate.

“There was no song and dance like there is this time,” he said.

“So who knows what will happen out here in the future.”

Mr Morgan has worked in the plastics division of Electrolux for 27 years and has seen many changes at the plant.

“I’m not sure what I would do if I didn’t work here,” he said.

“I am too young to retire so we will just have to wait and see.”