The Scottish government has been warned to expect a wave of strikes unless charities are given the money to fund significant pay rises for their staff.
Unison has written to ministers to say that recent votes for industrial action at charities were the “tip of the iceberg”.
The organisation, which is Scotland’s biggest union, is demanding significant extra funding so charity workers can receive the same pay rises as people working in local government.
In recent days, Unison members at Capability Scotland and Glasgow Women’s Aid voted in favour of strikes.
The union’s regional manager for Scotland, Peter Hunter, said: “The sector is in crisis with staff leaving in droves in search of employment with better pay and working conditions.
“There are also thousands of people awaiting the care they deserve who continue to suffer as the workforce diminishes.
“Many third sector organisations, like Capability Scotland and Glasgow Women’s Aid, are reliant on the limited funds local authorities allocate to fund care in their areas – funding which has long been inadequate.”
He added: “This means third sector workers find themselves in a tussle between their employer, local councils and the Scottish government.
“These ballot results are just the tip of the iceberg and a wave of strikes could follow unless the Scottish government delivers fair work and funding to the third sector as a matter of urgency.”
The Scottish government said it had received the letter and would respond in due course.
A spokesperson said: “We have committed to increase multi-year funding for the third sector and where possible we will do so.”