Workers at Silver Fern Farms Te Aroha plant are facing an uncertain Christmas after fire ripped through the freezing works at the weekend.

75 per cent of the factory was gutted by a blaze that broke out late on Friday night, leaving the 350 staff with no jobs to go to, and potentially no future.

Meatworkers’ Union area organiser Wayne Baram says many staff are still struck by the fear of losing their jobs.

“More than anything, they're saying ‘What are we going to do? How am I going to pay my mortgage? How am I going to put food on the table? How do I get another job? Can you help me?’”

Mr Baram says it’s not yet clear how long a rebuild might take.

“It depends on how bad the damage is. It has surprised me in the past how quickly they can get the works built. But it depends how bad it is, you’ve got ammonia pipes, you’ve got everything through there.”

Workers have met with Silver Fern Farms management in Te Aroha to discuss their future. 

Silver Fern chief executive Keith Cooper says production will be ramped up at the company’s three other beef plants to accommodate some of the workers.