In the united states, a. the legislative and executive branches have gradually come to share all institutional powers b. legislative powers include the ability to initiate and implement laws in a completely autonomous fashion c. the constitution gives the president the explicit ability to declare a state of emergency d. legislative, executive, and judicial powers are handled by separate institutions e. the judiciary ta

The best answer to your question: Did labor unions succeed in this goal in the late 1800´s (meaning the goal set by the Knight of Labor: "We mean to uphold the dignity of labor"), would be: initially no, as the laws and regulations that instituted the dignity of workers, and placed the rights of workers about those of companies, did not come after later, almost in the 20th century.

However, it was through the efforts of those groups like the Knights of Labor, and through constant union strikes and rebellion, that Congress, and state governments as well, began to issue legislation that recognized the needs, the rights, and the dignity of workers.

Before such strikes as those carried out by railroad workers, steel union workers, and others, laborers had to face almost inhuman conditions, really terrible wages, and little to no stability. Men, women and children were forced to work, almost 24-7, with minimum protection, to earn enough to survive, and they were exposed to conditions that caused a lot of deaths, and disease. But labor unions, and groups like the Knights of Labor, founded in 1869, managed, through concerted work, to push Congress, and states, to finally pass legislation regarding the changes in conditions for workers. Thus, in the end, although much later than the end of the 1800´s, they finally managed to uphold the dignity of workers.