Labour MSPs will boycott Holyrood for a day in support of striking public-sector workers but some may get paid.
Thousands of council staff, civil servants and NHS workers are expected to stay away at the end of the month in protest over changes to their pension deal.
Leadership candidate Johann Lamont says she and her colleagues will join them but there is no need for them to give up a day’s pay.
At the STUC Women’s conference on Tuesday, Ms Lamont said all her Labour colleagues would stay away from Holyrood during the November 30 strike day.
She said: ”In these tough economic times a heavy burden is being placed on women who face cuts in wages, increased pressure in the workplace and a reduction in childcare making it difficult for them to work.
”Many will also face filling the gap in caring when services are being reduced.”
She added: ”With women’s unemployment rocketing and family budgets reducing, there has never been a more important time for women’s voices to be heard.”
Another leadership candidate, Ken Macintosh, said he would be manning a picket line on November 30.
But MSPs have not made any ruling on giving up a day’s pay when they leave their jobs to join the strike.
A Labour spokesman said: ”Labour leader Iain Gray will not be taking his pay for that day. It is expected other MSPs will do likewise.”
Dundee-based Labour MSP Jenny Marra says she will not take her salary for the day.