Police officers could be pulled off the beat to cover for striking civilian workers.
The Unison union has urged members to take industrial action as relations with Police Scotland sink to an all-time low.
It follows concerns over the closure of four control rooms that handle 999 calls in Scotland, including Aberdeen, threatening more than 200 jobs.
George McIrvine, secretary of the Unison police staff Scotland branch, said: “Our members across Scotland are telling us loud and clear that enough is enough. Staff are stressed, overworked and under pressure.
“We will ballot them to gauge their strength of feeling on potential strike action.
“The employer has given us no choice.
“They are not providing the unions with answers to reasonable questions which we have consistently raised for many months now.”
The trade union said the way control room closures were being handled was causing “undue worry and stress” for staff threatened with losing their jobs or relocation.
Staff who cannot be redeployed will be hit by “reduced” redundancy terms that come into place on April 1, the first birthday of the new national police force.
Union bosses also accused the police of failing to address a formal request for compensation for staff who will lose their holiday entitlement to cover the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Mr McIrvine said industrial action could have an impact on policing the games because officers would have to be brought in to cover for striking staff members.
Unison wrote to its members in the police force yesterday stating that trust between Police Scotland and staff had broken down. A ballot result, which could lead to a decision to work to rule or all-out strike action, is expected on May 6.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority are responsible for managing the impact of change on staff and they take this role very seriously. We hope dialogue with the unions and staff can continue to discuss issues of concern without the need to ballot members on possible industrial action.”
John Gillies, director of people and development at Police Scotland, said: “We continue to be committed to discussion and engagement with the trade unions.
“There are a number of issues on the table currently and both sides have a common understanding of what the key areas are.
“From a management perspective, these are being considered in conjunction with the Scottish Police Authority and we are hopeful of a positive outcome and resolution following further engagement with union representatives.”