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The union representing thousands of MBTA employees slammed the transit authority over past budget cuts Monday, the day that officials announced a broken axle damaged by a ground ring as the cause of a June 11 Red Line derailment.

Jimmy O’Brien, president of the Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589, said in a statement that the MBTA should have invested more in personnel and testing before the breakdown occurred.

“Cuts to the operating budget and the elimination of jobs resulted in cuts to inspections and testing – including the ultrasonic testing that could have detected the problem that resulted in the Red Line derailment,” O’Brien said. “There are no corners to be cut when it comes to ensuring safety and service for our riders. A real investment in the MBTA means investing in the personnel and services required to ensure safety and satisfaction for passengers.”

The MBTA’s operating budget has fluctuated over the past five years, and regular wages declined for several years straight. In fiscal year 2020, the MBTA is planning an increase in both wages and total operating expenses over last year.

MBTA officials said Monday that they did ultrasonic inspections on all Red Line vehicle axles after the derailment and expect to finish similar tests on the Orange, Blue and Green line fleets in about three weeks. They also completed inspections of ground rings, the component that carries an electrical charge into the axles, on more than 100 of the oldest Red Line and continue to test the remainder of trains. Ultrasonic inspections will be conducted every year instead of every two years moving forward.