Delta employees to get 6 percent raises

APRIL 29, 2016 ATLANTA Delta Air Lines shows off some planes in its aircraft fleet during a media day at their Tech Ops hanger at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Friday, April 29, 2016. The airline has added new planes and also plans to refurbish the fleet of existing aircraft. KENT D. JOHNSON /kdjohnson@ajc.com

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

APRIL 29, 2016 ATLANTA Delta Air Lines shows off some planes in its aircraft fleet during a media day at their Tech Ops hanger at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Friday, April 29, 2016. The airline has added new planes and also plans to refurbish the fleet of existing aircraft. KENT D. JOHNSON /kdjohnson@ajc.com

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is giving its flight attendants and ground workers a 6 percent pay raise next April, the company announced Tuesday.

The employees got 18.5 percent raises last year, part of which made up for a change in the profit sharing formula that could reduce payouts.

For other Delta employees including administrative workers and managers, raises will vary based on merit and will also be drawn from a 6 percent pool.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a memo to employees that the raises will allow the company to maintain "industry-leading" compensation.

The raises comes as Delta pilots begin voting on a proposed new union contract that includes immediate raises of 18 percent, to make up for pay cuts from past years.

Delta's flight attendants and ground workers are non-union.