UPDATE 2-Ford, UAW marathon talks close in on labor pact

(Recasts; adds details on length of talks, quotes from workers)

By Kevin Krolicki and Jui Chakravorty

DETROIT, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Negotiators for Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and the United Auto Workers talked into Friday evening as the two sides closed in on a labor deal that would cap a historic round of bargaining between the union and the embattled U.S. auto industry.

Contract negotiations at Ford's Dearborn, Michigan, headquarters entered their 32nd consecutive hour, extending the longest-running bargaining session since UAW President Ron Gettelfinger returned to the talks on Tuesday.

The marathon session had begun at around 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) on Thursday, said a person briefed on the talks.

In four days of intensive talks, the two sides have made progress on key issues centered on health care costs and Ford's planned plant closings, putting a deal within reach as soon as Friday, the person said.

Ford, which has some 58,000 UAW-represented workers, is widely seen as having developed the most collaborative relationship of any of the three Detroit-based automakers with the union in recent years.

But the strength of Ford's ties to the union has also been tested by a push for deeper concessions than those granted to either General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) or Chrysler LLC.

Ford, which lost a record $12.6 billion last year, has indicated it was looking for about 8,000 to 10,000 additional factory job cuts. That would be in addition to the 27,000 UAW jobs Ford had cut as of June.